IT’S the moment he will regret for a long time.

Stephen Hooper certainly felt that sinking feeling as he stood on Weston shore and looked on as his beloved car became swamped in sea water.

Now he has urged people not to drive on the beach and called for signs to be put up to warn other drivers.

He has also apologised to the emergency services and thanked those who helped rescue him and his 4x4.

The 34-year-old from Eastleigh had been driving along the beach looking for a place to go fishing with his friend Mike Jones when his prized Mitsubishi Pajero became stuck in the shingle.

He tried to get it out before the tide came in – but it was no good.

Stephen was taken to safety by Hill Head Coastguard and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service leaving his car swamped in deep water as he waited six hours for the tide to go back out.

But as he and Mike, 26, waited, word got out on a Pajero owners forum and nine vehicles came from across Southampton and Portsmouth to help rescue it.

The car lovers linked their vehicles with rope and strops and made six attempts to pull the 20-year-old vehicle from the shingle.

When that failed they called Willy West and his son Josh who arrived with a recovery vehicle at 2.30am and took Stephen’s car back to his home.

Stephen, a plasterer, said: “He turned the car around and pulled it up out of the mud. He made it look so easy.

“I was absolutely relieved once it moved. As well as feeling upset about what had happened I was thankful to everyone that turned up. There were guys from all over Southampton and Portsmouth.

“It was taken back to my house. It will probably end up going to the scrap yard in the sky now.

“The car’s a write-off. It’s just money down the drain.

“Because it had been in the water so long everything is damaged. It’s mainly all the electricals and the gear box and engine are probably destroyed too.

“The car was pretty much fully submerged.

Stephen believes the water has caused £2,300 worth of damage, writing-off the car and ruining power tools and fishing equipment inside.

“I would advise not to drive along the beach now, not after what’s happened to me. I certainly wouldn’t do it again,” he added.

“Maybe there should be warning signs up to show the dangers.

“I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to the coastguard and fire service and I want to thank them and everyone else for their help, especially Willy and Josh West who came with the recovery truck and Mark Spark who helped gather up all the vehicles.”

A spokesman from Solent Coastguard said it was rare that cars became stuck on beaches but urged anyone who does get stuck to seek professional help rather than entering the water themselves.

Anyone who sees a vehicle going into water can dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.