POLICE have joined in to help with the search for a missing hearing dog for the deaf, which was stolen along with her owner’s car.

Border collie Soot was inside a grey Land Rover Discovery - which was stolen from the Tesco Hermitage Road service station in Low Town, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, last Tuesday night (February 22).

Police officers from West Mercia Police, who are investigating the crime, say they received a number of sightings of Soot over the weekend - from people who spotted the dog in the Stewponey area of the A449, Stourton.

Soot’s owner Peter Ward, who is partially deaf, has been left lost without his beloved dog and the 52-year-old from Chelmarsh near Bridgnorth has offered a reward for the safe return of Soot.

The dog is believed to have been dumped in the area as at least three sightings have been reported since Sunday afternoon.

The sightings have prompted people living nearby to search the area and police officers on patrol have been keeping an eye out for missing Soot - who owner Mr Ward says has been his lifeline, alerting him to phone calls, callers at the door and to traffic in the streets.

Anyone who sees Soot is urged to call West Mercia Police on 0300 333 3000, or people living in Stourbridge with information about the theft or the dog’s whereabouts can contact Dudley Police on 0345 113 5000.

The stolen Land Rover Discovery DN08JXJ has not yet been recovered.