It is a mystery worthy of the pen of Ian Fleming himself, featuring a high stakes theft, shady middle men and a 20-year-hunt for the dastardly individuals responsible.

When the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger was stolen from a Florida airport hangar in 1997 there were fears it would never be seen again.

For years the search for the car used by Sean Connery in his role as Fleming’s 007, the spy with a licence to kill, proved fruitless.

But now hopes have risen that it may yet be recovered, after a tip was received giving details of the Aston Martin’s current whereabouts.

Its location, according to those supplying the information, is classic espionage territory - the Middle East.