NOBODY would look twice at the 18-year-old Ford Granada on Chris Harrison's drive -- but it used to be owned by the Queen Mother.

Mr Harrison, of Plantation Street, Accrington, paid several times over the estate car's £700 value in a charity auction because of its illustrious history.

And he joked: "I've had a look down the side of the seats but there was nothing left behind -- it had been valeted very well!

"It drives like a Rolls-Royce, it has been well-looked after and is absolutely immaculate."

Kensington auctioneers Coys sold the Granada on behalf of the Sir Steve Redgrave Charitable Trust.

A spokesman for Coys said: "This particular Ford Granada has a unique and fascinating history, having been registered to the Ford Motor Co, the car is understood to have been loaned to the British Royal family by the widow of Henry Ford the Second for both official and unofficial duties.

"Following its time with the Royal Family, the car returned to Mrs Ford, who in turn donated the car to the trust.

"In the course of its Royal duties, the car is believed to have been used quite extensively by the late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

"The practicalities of this well-appointed estate were no doubt lost on the nature loving Royal, with her collection of dogs, the Granada would be the ideal carriage for everyday life at Glamis or Balmoral."

Mr Harrison, a fork-lift truck driver, said: "I have seen it on the television in the past with the Queen Mother. They wouldn't have used Rolls Royces all the time."

Mr Harrison, 49, is a 'Ford fanatic'. In addition to the Granada, he has a big garage containing a modern Fiesta and three other 'classic' Fords -- a 1968 Lotus Cortina, a 1979 Cortina and a 1979 Motorhome.

He fell in love with Fords in his early days as a mechanic from 1964 at the Walsh Brother's Garage in Blackburn and later for Skippers in Burnley.

Mr Harrison said: "Fords are classics. They are so useable and spares are always available.

"With the Granada, it is just nice on a good day to be able to jump in and drive over to places like Whitby and Sheffield, where we have friends.

"I have classic car insurance on it, so can only drive it for 1,500 miles a year but it was worth it.

Protocal prevents Buckingham Palace talking about former Royal property -- a Buckingham Palace spokesman said for commercial reasons he "could not comment on the provenance of vehicles."