Thieves bit off more than they could chew when they stole a high-powered sports car from the Worthy Down area.

The TVR Cerbera, worth around £50,000, was found wrecked and abandoned on the M3 near junction three in Surrey early Friday morning. Police believe they could not control the car, which has a top speed of 190 mph and can do 0-60mph in about four seconds.

The car was stolen from a home in Coopers Close, where thieves broke into the house and stole the keys to the green N reg coupe.

Police are linking the theft to two other burglaries in the area on the same evening, one in Blackwell Drive, where property was stolen from the porch of a home that was later found abandoned, and another in Rees Road.

Again thieves entered through a window and took a small amount of cash and the keys to a car. This time they left the vehicle in the garage and took a bag left inside.

Police would like to hear from anyone who saw the crash on the M3 or who has any information on any of the break-ins, call Hampshire police on 0845 045 45 45.