A THIEF may have bitten off more than he could chew when he stole a couple's caravette.

The crook who drove off in pensioner Fred Yates's Citroen camper, also sped away with the 73-year-old's "vicious'' Jack Russell bitch, Meg, on board.

When Mr Yates and his wife, Lillian, returned from a shopping trip to find their vehicle gone, a person working nearby recalled hearing the furious barking of a dog.

"Meg is quite vicious; without a doubt she would go for any stranger,'' said Mr Yates who had driven over to Redcar with his wife, accompanied by their pet.

The predominantly white terrier has a black scar above her front left leg, a legacy she received after tackling two horses which wandered too close - for Meg's liking - to a caravan the couple used to have. One of the horses kicked the terrier.

The car thief struck when the couple went for a brief trip to the shops at Redcar after first taking Meg for a walk along the sea front and locking her into the Citroen.

After finding the vehicle stolen they searched the area in vain for Meg, in case the bitch had run off or been dumped.

Mr Yates who lives at Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, said: "We can only surmise they have taken Meg with them in the van. We are devastated and to be quite honest, are in tears. I cannot describe how we feel.''

The couple have had 16-year-old Meg since she was a pup. "She only cost £15 when we bought her, but she is beyond price,'' Mr Yates said.

"I am concerned not for the van but for the dog. If, whoever did this had taken her somewhere and dropped her off where we could have found her, it would have been a big relief. But, we don't know what has happened. They can't be animal lovers.''

Anyone finding Meg should call Mr and Mrs Yates on (01642) 276792.