A couple whose moped was stolen have had the recovery fee paid by police after it was discovered they were given incorrect information.

Thieves snatched the 50cc moped from Francesca and Nigel Shaw's garden and the couple reported the £300 bike stolen.

But when police officers found the moped just yards away from where they lived, instead of knocking on the couple's door to hand it back, they called in recovery contractors.

The bike was taken to a pound in Bolney, about 13 miles from Brighton.

Mr and Mrs Shaw, of Buckingham Road, Brighton, then received a letter from police telling them their moped was at the pound.

When Mrs Shaw called the recovery company, she was told there would be a charge of £270 for the return of the vehicle.

The company agreed to reduce the charge to £105 but the couple were furious that, as victims of crime, they had to pay for the return of their property.

The bike has remained in the recovery pound since July 18 while Mrs Shaw wrote to police chiefs and Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper about the fee.

Police said the charge was part of statutory regulations recoverable from insurance.

But Mrs Shaw refused to accept it and said: "Had I known there would have been a fee to have the thing back I probably wouldn't have reported it stolen. It was only worth £300."

Mrs Shaw said when they reported the moped stolen they had not been told of the recovery fee.

After weeks of phone calls and correspondence, the couple received a letter from Tim Rose, vehicle recovery manager for Sussex Police, who agreed to pay the recovery charge.

He said in the letter: "We have made the decision to pay the recovery fee as you were not informed of the policy when reporting the vehicle stolen.

"I am sure you understand police budgets are stretched beyond their limit and by us meeting this bill, we are reducing money that otherwise would have been used for policing."

Mr Rose told The Argus: "Under the Road Traffic Act 1986 she is liable for the recovery fee.

"When she reported it stolen the call handler forgot to tell her she was liable for the recovery fee so I have waived that fee."

The couple are not the only residents to find themselves paying the price for vehicle crime.

Police recovered Eileen O'Leoghaire's stolen Metro and arrested a suspect before she even knew it had gone.

The 42-year-old care home manager, of Harmsworth Crescent, Hove, was ecstatic, until she was handed a bill for £105.

Victims of car crime in Sussex are paying almost £1 million a year for their vehicles' return.

Mr Lepper has written to Mr and Mrs Shaw saying he has raised the issue with the Home Office.