Halloween proved to be more of a trick than a treat for one Tolworth woman after she returned home from a party to find her specially decorated taxi, Doris the Wondercab, had been stolen.

Anna Osborne, 29, of Tolworth Broadway, took her daughter Leyla, seven, and a group of her friends from Coombe Hill Infant School out trick or treating in Doris last night.

The cab was decked out in Halloween colours with ghosts, pumpkins and flashing lights.

After dropping the car off at home, Ms Osborne said she returned from another party at midnight to find Doris had gone.

She said: "I came back and was able to park in the space where Doris had been.

"I'm absolutely livid - it had clearly been decorated for the children and someone has just ruined a little kid's Halloween."

Ms Osborne, a dog trainer and rescuer, bought the decommissioned 20-year-old vintage cab in January and said she was well known in the area for using Doris to ferry rescue dogs to foster homes.

She said: "I'd always wanted a cab - I love them.

"It's like Beirut around here. You're actually pleased to wake up and find your car still there.

"It's not like losing a normal car. Now we're worried that someone is going to be driving around in an unlicensed cab attempting to pick up people."

Have you seen Doris? Contact Alita Howe at ahowe@london.newsquest.co.uk or call 020 8330 9548.