A distraught owner has issued a plea for her beloved dog to be returned after she was snatched from her home.

Bella, a pedigree cocker spaniel, was taken from kennels at Jekylls Farm in Cornish Hall End, near Finchingfield.

The eight-year-old dog, who has been with the family of Freya Debnam- Sharp since she was a puppy, worked on the farm until she was stolen on Friday, October 16.

Miss Debnam-Sharp, 20, said: “My dad found her kennel door wide open between 7.30am and 7.45am. The door is very stiff and hard to open. No animal could have moved it so she didn’t escape.

She’s never got out by herself before and she wouldn’t be able to push the door wide open.

“We have a Jack Russell next to the house who would normally bark if someone went near her, so it’s strange that she didn’t.

“Bella is very excitable, but she’s only ever been in a car a couple of times for vet visits so she wouldn’t be used to travelling. Bella has always lived with us so I don’t know how she would be living with someone else.”

Miss Debnam-Sharp, a student, found Bella was missing after her sister found posts from her dad searching for the cocker spaniel on Facebook.

She said: “My dad couldn’t bring himself to tell me or my sister she was missing because he knew we would be really sad about it.

“We have shared her picture everywhere in the Essex area and told people in the village. The police and dog wardens in the area are aware she is missing.

“We are making it too hot to handle. if they are planning on selling her on then people will know she is stolen.

“I have no idea if we will get her back but she’s a family dog that needs to be back where she belongs.”

A spokesman from Braintree Council’s dog warden service said: “Potential purchasers should ensure they see the dog at the home of the seller, never buy from someone in a street, from a car or at the purchaser’s home.

“If in any doubt about whether the dog is genuinely owned by the seller contact the Police on 101. If there are any concerns about the quality of the dog, contact Trading Standards, they oversee sale of goods.”

Call Braintree police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.