THREE newly-born puppies are desperately missing their mother, who it is feared has been stolen.

Yesterday, Joanne Cliff, of Front Street, West Auckland, made an appeal for the return of the three-year-old pet, who went missing on Monday.

She said she feared the Bedlington terrier, called Molly, had been stolen after she was let out into the garden.

Mrs Cliff said: "She was only out a few minutes. I asked one of the kids to shout her back into the house but she never appeared.

"We searched for over an hour for her but really we think she has been stolen.

"She never wanders far from the house and she would never leave her pups.''

Mrs Cliff, who has two children, Jamie, aged eight, and Leonie, four, is now feeding the two-week-old puppies milk every two hours to try to keep them alive.

She said: "I have cried all night thinking of those poor puppies being left and the kids are missing her. All of us are. It is like losing a member of the family.''

Mrs Cliff said she has telephoned the police, several veterinary surgeries and dog rescue centres in her attempt to find Molly.

She said she wanted whoever has got Molly to hand her in to the nearest police station or just bring her home because the puppies desperately needed their mother.

Anyone who has seen Molly or knows where she is can contact Mrs Cliff on (01388) 832223.