BELOVED pets have been stolen from a home near Colchester.

Valuable gundogs Ruby and Skye were taken from their kennels on Easter Sunday by dog thiefs who used a screwdriver to break in and steal them.

Officers from Suffolk Police are investigating the break-in and dognapping from a home on Sandpits Lane, Holten St Mary between 7.30pm and 9pm.

Ruby is a black Cocker Spaniel, Skye is a white English Springer Spaniel.

Social media hits from people trying to help retrieve the dogs have already reached 25,000.

Owner Sarah Pearce said: “The response from people trying to help has been amazing.

“It was devastating to go out in the morning and see they were not there.

“They are members of the family.”

A screwdriver left at the scene has been taken for forensic tests.

Mrs Pearce said: “They sleep outside in kennels.

“They are working dogs and pets.

“We heard them barking at about 9pm which is when we think they were taken.”

Ruby is a seven-year-old stocky bitch with a white patch on her chest.

Skye is eight-years-old, large and white with symmetrical liver patches on her eyes and ears and freckles on her nose.

Mrs Pearce added: “Ruby is muscular and pretty. Skye is very affectionate.

“I think they were stolen to order.”

The dogs help her farmer father to retrieve during hunting trips and will be confused after being taken.

They could be worth a combined £2,000 due to their quality and may have been stolen to work or breed.”

Anyone with information call the Babergh East Safer Neighbourhood Team on 101 quoting reference HD/15/547.