AN Eltham woman who lost her dog in Greenwich Park says it was kidnapped and a ransom has been demanded.

Stacey Mulford was taking her miniature pinchers Dublin and Kingston for a walk on Tuesday (April 23) at around 5pm when they were startled by another walker.

Dublin, who was being let of his lead at the time, bolted off across the park in shock.

Ms Mulford, 38, of Rancliffe Gardens, said: "We were running and running to try and get him. People were saying he'd gone this way and that way. He'd shot off like a rocket."

They continued the search until 6.45pm before giving up. But, just 90 minutes later, Ms Mulford received a mysterious phonecall.

He told her that his friend had found her dog - which has its owner's phone number on the collar - near the Blackwall Tunnel. But, as they tried to arrange a meeting point, the conversation took a sinister turn.

Ms Mulford said: "We told him we just wanted the dog back. But he said 'what's it worth?'

"We said we could scrape together £50 cash and he said he'd ring me back. But he never did."

Ms Mulford is now circulating pictures of her dog - which were used in News Shopper last week - on Facebook and posters around the area.

She said: "I can't stop crying and the kids are devastated."

Ms Mulford added: "People have been fantastic helping to look for Dublin. Photos have reached parts of Kent now.

"Somebody must have seen the guy that took him and what car he was driving."

If you can help, call her on 07907 420 920.