BELLA SCOTT feared she may have seen the last of her dog when thieves stole her car - with the English pointer sitting in the back.

As she scoured the car park in the hope he had been left behind, the thieves made a detour to get rid of four-year-old Laser - at an animal sanctuary.

By chance, a police dog warden was at the sanctuary and told colleagues a dog had been handed over in strange circumstances. After a few phone calls, Laser was reunited with a relieved Mrs Scott, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, next day.

"They must have had a stroke of conscience somewhere, otherwise they would have just chucked him out of the car," she said.

"It is strange that someone who goes around stealing cars cares enough to look after my dog."

Mrs Scott left Laser in her Mitsubishi Shogun while she popped into Morrisons supermarket, at Morton Park, Darlington, at 2pm on Wednesday.

The thieves took Laser to the Dogs Trust, formerly the National Canine Defence League, at Sadberge. They made sure he would be taken in then disappeared when they were asked to fill in paperwork.

Unfortunately, Mrs Scott's Shogun has not yet been recovered.