A distraught mother will tell her children their missing dog is not coming back, unless he is found this week.

Mari Wood, 35, a teaching assistant, of High Street Bradwell, last saw Rex on April 2.

The missing six-month-old American bulldog is a registered autism support dog for Mrs Wood’s five-year-old son Tim.

She said: “There have been three or four possible leads and none of them have been the right dog.

“Everytime I realise it’s not him it kills me inside.”

Mrs Wood now believes that someone has stolen the family’s puppy and has reported it to the police.

She said: “I will never give up looking for Rex, he means so much to my children and so much to me.”

If anyone spots Rex call Mari Wood: 07563 179871