A farming family are offering a reward after their pet spaniel was snatched from their pick-up truck.

The black-and-white springer, named Whisky, was taken while his owner Mac Spence was working on farm machinery.

Now Mr Spence and his wife Elizabeth have pinned up 'wanted-style' posters in Wantage and Grove pleading for the safe return of their pet.

Two-year-old Whisky was stolen from Ashbury Farm, to the west of White Horse Hill, in the Vale of White Horse last Sunday, by a thief who police believe carried a knife during the attack.

Mr and Mrs Spence, who have owned spaniels for more than 40 years, are offering a "substantial" reward for the dog's safe return.

Mr Spence, 63, whose family have farmed the 1,300 acres at Ashbury since the 1930s, said he was "cut to the quick" by the apparently brutal manner of the dog's disappearance.

He said: "I was operating a caterpillar machine after lunch on Sunday and the dog was with me. I had left him in the cab of our Subaru pick-up, parked off the road in completely open country, with the window open. "He's used to going everywhere with me and regarded the cab as his territory. If anyone had tried to get in there, he'd have had their hand off.

"He must have put up a hell of a scrap. He'd kicked up the mats and messed everywhere, as dogs do when they're distressed, so he must have been terrified. Whoever it was had also stuck a knife through the front wheel of the pick-up.

Mr Spence said he believed those responsible had been watching his movements for days, and may have taken the spaniel believing him to be a valuable gun dog.

There's no price I could put on this dog. He was such a little pal with a marvellous temperament and was literally a member of the family."

"I just hope to God he comes back."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wantage police on 01235 776000, or Mr and Mrs Spence on 01793 710287.

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