A dog owner has appealed for help finding a pet she fears has been stolen.

Danielle Bateman, 21, returned to her home in the Crooked Mile, Waltham Abbey, at about 3pm on Monday to find her front door open and her three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Lady gone.

She said: “There was a bit of wood missing from the door.

“My other dog, my Rottweiler Roxy, was still there and they do everything together, so if Lady had run off, the other one would have done too.

“She’s not been spayed, so I’m worried she’s been stolen for breeding. She’s a good pedigree.”

She has reported the incident to the police and has asked anyone with information to get in touch with them.