THE future of a litter of puppies due to be born next week looks bleak after a pregnant bitch disappeared from a Hampshire garden in what is feared to be a case of dognapping.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel was one of six who went missing from their Wickham home.

Devastated owner Sue Shrimpton said they were among dogs that went missing.

However, her mastiff and Italian spinoni made their way back home hours after they went missing on Saturday.

With no sightings of her dogs, five of whom are microchipped, Sue fears they have been stolen and could be sold.

She is now hoping someone will hand in her dogs - Rosie, Daisy, Phoebe, Emmy, Dizzy, who recently qualified for Crufts, and Sophie, who is due to give birth any day.

Sue, 55, of Biddenfield Lane, said: "It's any breeder's worst nightmare, with eight years of hard work showing and breeding them just ripped away."