BURGLARS stole an £80,000 sports car belonging to Bolton Wanderers footballer Stelios Giannakopoulos during a raid on the star's luxury home in Whittle-le- Woods, near Chorley.

Raiders smashed through a patio door and snatched the keys to the high-powered BMW after ransacking several rooms. The car was then driven away.

It is still missing, police confirmed today.

Neither Greek international Stelios, 33, who signed for Wanderers from Olympiakos in 2003, or his family were in the house at the time of the burglary, a Lancashire Police spokesman said.

The car's number plate and a handbag were found abandoned yards away from the house.

Anyone with information should call police on 0845 1253545 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.