Worksop: Couple's 'sheer relief' after stolen dog returned

Steve Tindle and his wife Hayley have had the Staffordshire bull terrier, Niro, since he was 18 months old

A couple say they felt "sheer relief" when they were reunited with their beloved dog after the car he was in had been stolen.

Niro, a Staffordshire bull terrier, was in the vehicle that was taken from a car park in Babbage Way, Worksop, shortly before 14:00 GMT on Saturday.

The Land Rover Discovery Sport was found within 25 minutes after owner Steve Tindle reported it stolen.

His wife Hayley said he "hit the floor" when the dog returned.

She said: "Niro means the world to us both. We've had him since he was just 18 months old.

"I think he was thrown out of another car before we had him so it's horrible to think he might have thought we'd abandoned him too. The area where he was found was totally alien to him."

A member of the public said the 11-year-old dog was abandoned

Nottinghamshire Police said a member of the public reported he had found Niro abandoned in Axle Lane, South Anston, in South Yorkshire.

The car and trailer were also recovered by officers shortly after the dog was found.

Mr Tindle added: "I was in shock and distraught at what happened that day. I would like to thank the police for their immediate response and quickly finding Niro and my wife's vehicle. I hate to think what would have happened to him, being abandoned and alone without his family."

Officers arrested a 40-year-old man on Sunday on suspicion of theft.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].