AN 80-year-old dog breeder from Droitwich Spa is enduring sleepless nights after the theft of two priceless puppies.

The Bernese Mountain bitches were snatched from Diana Cochrane's Martin Hussingtree home.

Mrs Cochrane, who brought the Swiss breed to Britain in the 1960s and pioneered Bernese breeding techniques, fears the thieves won't know how to care for the canines, who are both just three months old.

The Swedish dogs are both micro-chipped and were snatched on Tuesday, April 22, between noon and 4pm. Another puppy in the same pen as the missing mutts was left and it's believed the pair could have been stolen to order.

Mrs Cochrane told the Advertiser: "They are beautiful dogs and have homes waiting for them in Sweden and India. They've had all their injections and flights are booked."

The puppies have been fed a specialist diet to ensure they are 'bonny' and Mrs Cochrane fears the dog-nappers may feed the puppies tinned food and make them ill.

"I ask everyone to look out for these dogs because I and their owners to be, are desperate to have them back. The news has hit breeder websites across the world but I still can't sleep as night for worrying about them." She said the pair would be useless for professional breeding because the thieves will not have their official papers.

They are both black, white and rust in colour. Bernese Mountain dogs are one of four Swiss working breeds. Their duties traditionally included driving cattle, guarding farms and pulling small carts. They are known for being loyal to their owners and prefer to live in a family environment.

Anyone with information about the theft should contact PC Catherine Bone on 08457 444 888 quoting 175C/220403.