A family have been reunited with their beloved pet dog after he was handed in to a vet more than 40 miles from where he was reportedly snatched last week.

Five-year-old Pomeranian, Bear, was allegedly stolen from outside Josephine Cordell's home in London Road last Monday, much to the dismay of the self-employed mum's three children, Pescha, 16, Marlo, 14, and Calia, 12.

His disappearance sparked a dog-hunt supported by a host of celebrities on social media.

Kent Police issued an appeal while television personalities including Dragons' Den businesswoman Deborah Meaden and former Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan also helped raise awareness on social media, with various posts shared hundreds of times.

Mrs Cordell said the alleged theft had put a huge strain on the family, with her youngest daughter having been in and out of hospital for over a month as she battles illness.

She received the call the family had been waiting for at around 8.30pm last night.

She said: "Someone gave him in anonymously to a vet in Harlow. They said they'd just found him running around.

"The vet checked him over before phoning us in the evening. We asked 'is it really him? Are you sure?'

"It took about 40 minutes in the car but I had three screaming children in the back telling me to drive faster.

"They're absolutely over the moon, and Bear took up his usual position in Pescha's bed last night."