RARE puppy breeders in Padiham were overjoyed after their six Lakeland Terriers were returned to them unharmed.

An anonymous tip-off late on Friday ended hours of agony for Mike and Joanne Vickers after the pups were snatched from their Dean Range home.

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An appeal for their safe return was published by the Lancashire Telegraph and online, after they disappeared on Tuesday.

Late on Friday the couple were told by a caller that the puppies had been left close by, leading to a reunion within minutes.

Joanne said: “We just wanted to let everyone know that the puppies are now safely back home. Whoever had them had looked after them.”

She thanked everyone who had read about and shared their appeal - which had made the eight-week-old dogs almost impossible to trade on.

Pc Nigel Keates, the area’s wildlife officer, said: “If it was not for the appeal then we would not have got them back.

“They literally became too hot to handle and we are delighted to learn that that they have been returned to Mike and Joanne.”

Lakeland Terriers are among the country’s rarest breeds, with only 173 puppies registered last year, according to the Kennel Club, compared to 277 a decade previously.

Mike had only let their puppies outside for a brief breath of fresh air, on Tuesday morning, when the intruders took the litter.

Thieves are believed to have scaled a locked yard gate and then made their way into the pen. Before leaving they left the pen door open.

Even more worryingly, the puppies had not yet been microchipped, which could have potentially made them more difficult to identify if they were lost for any length of time and recovered.

Mike had said he was prepared not to press charges, if only the puppies could be brought back safe and well.

The Vickers have bred dogs for more than 40 years and were relieved to see the six return.