A family has been left “devastated” after their pet pug was “stolen” in Bromley.

Vanessa Lucas, aged 40, says she and her two daughters have been left sad and riddled with guilt since four-month-old Bertie was picked up by an unknown woman and put in the back of a car.

The dog, which is beige with a black face and ears, must have escaped out of the kitchen door while Mrs Lucas was moving objects into her car outside.

When she returned to the house, she noticed her other pug Peaches was sitting all alone.

Mrs Lucas, of Havelock Road, said: “As soon as I realised he was missing I walked down the street looking for him.

“I spoke to one of my neighbours who said a woman had pulled up in a black Renault Megane.

“She told my neighbour she knew a pet pug breeder and that maybe he had come from there and that she would take him to safety.

“That’s obviously what she said to persuade her she was a good a person.

“And then she just drove off.”

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The mother-of-two, who is offering a £1,000 reward to whoever can find Bertie, says her family have been left traumatised by the incident.

She said: “I guess the wrong person came along.

“I feel absolutely devastated. He was my baby.

“He was the light in the family. He made us all happy and gave us all lots of laughter through what has been a very difficult time since the separation with my husband.

“He was a lovely little character and me and the girls feel so guilty – like we should have done something different.”

Bromley police have confirmed they are investigating the incident.

Anyone with information should call police on 101 or call Mrs Lecas on 0208 2498 694.