A five-year-old with cerebral palsy needs help to find his best friend Fred the Chihuahua who has gone missing.

The two and a half year old dog disappeared without trace from his home in Pagitt Street, Chatham on Sunday.

Fred lives with Jacob Dale, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, his brother Tirian, 9 and sister Teagan, 12, and mum Sian Dale.

Miss Dale said: "Freddie is a big deal in our family.

"He's so important to Jacob.

"Due to his cerebral palsy, Jacob has to lie on the floor and little Fred is the only one who can play with him.

"When Jacob has epileptic seizures, Fred will jump up on his chest and calm his down.

"They always have cuddles."

Fred became a permanent member of the Dale household in February, after being slowly introduced to their two Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Karma and Bruce.

Jacob does not realise Freddie is missing, but has constantly been asking for him.

Miss Dale said: "All the children love him.

"Teagan had to take Monday and Tuesday off school, she was so upset.

"Tirian, has autism so doesn't fully understand, what's going on.

"He tells me he keeps having dreams that Fred has come back.

"When the kids wake up I can see them searching for him.

"It's the first thing they ask about in the morning, as soon as they come home from school they ask if Fred has come back.

Miss Dale was out at the shops when Fred went missing at around 7pm.

She said: "My friend was in the house, I went out to the shops with my daughter Teagan.

"Then when I came back, the door was open, one of my staffs was out and Fred was gone."

"Since Sunday we've had no sightings, so I'm worried someone has taken him."