A five-month-old puppy was stolen in Hampton Hill High Street on Monday afternoon, whilst his owner bought a sandwich. Arnold, a white cavalier King Charles spaniel with brown ears, was tied up outside the Lunchbox café for just five minutes.

When Simon Prinsloo returned a white van had pulled up beside the puppy and a young man was dragging him into it. Mr Prinsloo ran to the van and was dragged along, clinging on to the window as it sped off with his dog. When forced to let go, he rang the police who arrived immediately and attempted to make chase but to no avail.

The old Ford Fiesta van had the registration: G308 XOM, but a police search has been unsuccessful.

Elaine Hodgson says her boyfriend is devastated: "We just can’t believe this has happened. He’d only bought the puppy eight weeks ago. We just adored him, he was like our child.

"The youths who took him looked like traveller types, which must be why it’s so hard to track them down. We’re continuing to search the kennels and vets but the police don’t hold out much hope." There is a £500 reward for finding Arnold and anyone with information can call 07791 761613 or 07956 878019.