A rare 1969 muscle car will be crushed if its owner is not traced.

Police in Sutton are making a final attempt to trace the owner of a white Chevrolet impala supersport to stave off the scrapyard.

The car with and Idaho registration plate of 2CJM614 was found abandoned at the roadside in rush-hour traffic at the junction of Cheam Road and Belmont Rise on Tuesday, February 17 at 8.10am.

The car, which had accident damage to its front and side, was taken to a police car pound after it was recovered Police believe it may have been stolen and used by joy-riders.

PC Jamie Stone, of Sutton Police Station, said: "All enquiries to find the owner have proved fruitless to date.

"Unless we find the owner, this classic American muscle car faces being turned into soup cans, which breaks my heart a little."

He said the vehicle may have been kept in a lock-up and the owner may not yet be aware that it has been taken. "This is the only opportunity we have to try and re-unite it with its owner before it gets destroyed," he added The owner has until Friday, March 20, to come forward.

To claim the vehicle call Sutton Police on 101 quoting reference number 4001824/15.

The rightful owner will be required to produce a number of documents to prove entitlement to the vehicle.