POLICE are searching for the driver of a stolen car who took fuel without paying on Monday evening.

Officers were called at 8.48pm to reports that fuel had been stolen from the BP garage at Ringwood Road at St Leonards.

A man had driven a stolen red convertible Porsche onto the forecourt and filled the car with fuel before driving away, making no attempts to pay, in the direction of Ringwood.

With help from the NPAS helicopter crew, officers extensively searched the area and the vehicle was found abandoned a short time later at Sainsbury's car park in Ferndown.

No arrests have yet been made.