Air guitarist left with air

Thieves have left a champion air guitarist with nothing but his instrument of glory - thin air.

A car stolen from Mount Maunganui last week with three guitars inside belonged to New Zealand's air-guitar champion, Tarquin "the Tarkness" Keys. Mr Keys estimated the guitars and leads were worth $2500.

Despite this setback, he will continue to Oulu, Finland, on August 27, where he'll be up against 11 other competitors in the ninth annual World Air Guitar Championships.