THIEVES are in for a nasty surprise if they try to wash their cars with a pressure washer they stole.

For the powerful washer is filled with chemicals, which will wreck the paintwork in about two weeks.

The yellow Karcher washer was stolen from the Lindley headquarters of Hartford Holdings at about 5am on Saturday.

The company controls Milnsbridge- based Trojan Plastics and chemical processers Lexcast, of Ashbrow Mills, off Bradford Road, Sheepridge.

The washer was used in the chemical cleansing process.

Hartford Holdings director Maurice Mosley said: "If this washer was used on cars they would look very clean at first.

"But after about two weeks the paintwork would start to bubble.

"The car would then need respraying," he said.

The washer costs £3,000 and weighs more than 200lb.

Mr Mosley added: "It would have needed two people to lift the washer into a van to steal it."

Contact Huddersfield police helpdesk on 01484 436659.