TWO dogs belonging to a North-East stabbing victim have been returned to the kennels they were stolen from after a heartfelt plea from the dead man's father this week.

Lance Stoker died after being stabbed near his home in Beech Street, Felling, near Gateshead.

He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Gates-head, where he was later pronounced dead.

The 24-year-old victim was unmarried and devoted to his two pet dogs, so parents Lance and Carol Stoker arranged for them to be rehomed.

They took the dogs to an animal shelter in Benton Lane, Newcastle, last week.

But the dogs disappeared after a break-in at the refuge and Mr Stoker's father pleaded for their return.

The dogs, a black and tan Staffordshire bull terrier and an Irish Staffordshire bull terrier, were returned to the animal refuge on Thursday night.