A family are desperately appealing for help finding a dog they fear was stolen after going missing on a walk.

Dawn Bearfield was on her way to collect her two children from St Michael’s Primary School in Braintree when one of her two Labradors, Bailey, failed to re-emerge from down by a stream on the Flitch Way.

Mrs Bearfield, of Queenborough Lane, Rayne, was late arriving at the school after scouring the area and returned to search again afterwards with the children and her other Labrador, Oscar.

As well as the family’s daily searches, Bella’s Angels, an Essex-based dog search party, have also hunted in vain for the missing pooch, while a friend of Mrs Bearfield’s husband, Andrew, flew over the surrounding area in his microlight plane.

Mrs Bearfield, who has put up posters throughout Braintree, fears the dog was stolen.

Bailey disappeared on the afternoon of January 7.

Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to call Mrs Bearfield on 07956 543462.