AN ANIMAL lover is hopping mad after ruthless kidnappers took her frog hostage.

Jan Goldsmith was stunned to discover her ceramic frog Croakie had been stolen from outside her home in Carisbrook Avenue, Bexley.

His captors left a ransom note, threatening to kill the frog if Mrs Goldsmith told News Shopper.

As she contacted her favourite newspaper, her devastated owner fears Croakie may have croaked it.

The ransom note featured a picture of the frog, with the cry Help me please, I've been frognapped'.

On the back of the note was a chilling warning Do not contact News Shopper, or the frog gets it'.

Mrs Goldsmith, 50, admits she has no idea who has stolen Croakie.

She said: "I can only think this is someone playing a practical joke but I am racking my brains to see who could be so cruel.

"How could someone do this? My poor Croakie must be ever so cold."

Mrs Goldsmith received Croakie as a birthday present from a friend on New Year's Eve.

The frog sits outside her home and croaks at passers-by.

The mother-of-one says she will not be replacing Croakie if he has gone to the big pond in the sky.

She added: "It would be too sad to get a replacement. There is only one Croakie."

This is not the first instance of animal-napping in Bexley.

In 2002, News Shopper reported how a gang captured a brass bunny from the Victoria pub, Belvedere.

It was later revealed it may have been smuggled out of the country, after a picture was released of the bunny blindfolded and gagged in the cockpit of an aeroplane.

The police refused to comment but are sure to frogmarch the kidnappers to the nearest police station when they catch them.

Do you know Croakie's whereabouts? Call the newsdesk on 01689 885790.