POLICE in Chester-le-Street want help to trace the owners of three Jack Russell dogs handed in to them.

A bitch and a dog were handed in to the police station front desk on Monday by a motorist who saw them running about near a road at Leamside, near West Rainton.

The smooth-haired dog is ginger and white and the bitch is black and white and neither of them were wearing collars when handed in.

PC David Best of Chester-le-Street police said: "The pair seemed used to being in each other's company and were clearly unhappy when they were briefly separated."

The third dog was found on Waldridge Fell by a landlord at a nearby pub on Sunday. He is smaller than the other dogs, black and white and was wearing a thin red collar without any identification.

PC Best added: "All three dogs appear to be young adults between two and four-years-old. They look well-fed and are in good condition. They are also very friendly animals so it is hard to believe that no-one is missing them."

Anyone who recognises these descriptions should contact Chester-le-Street police on 0191 3884311 or phone West Hall kennels at Cleadon on 0191-529 2369.