A dog that was stolen has been retrieved by police and reunited with its tearful owner.

Police on Teesside are following new leads and expect to collar more suspects in connection with the theft of weeks old puppy bitch, Betty, and owner Jill Geiser's car in which she was stolen.

The car - a Renault Clio - was recovered at South Bank, near Middlesbrough, two days after it was taken.

But it was not until eight days later that a tip off led officers to a house in the area where the flat-coated retriever was recovered.

Detective Constable Richie Ornsby said the entire family - Dr Geiser, her husband, Peter, and daughter, Katie, were in tears when police reunited them with Betty.

"They were all overwhelmed. You just don't get that ( reception) these days,'' he said.

Dr Geiser who had left her keys in her car as she ran quickly into the village post office at Crathorne, near Yarm, when it was stolen, said: "It's all our Christmases come at once. We all thought, in the scheme of things, we had a better chance of winning the National Lottery.''

Dr Geiser had quartered the area, looking for the puppy; visiting schools with home made posters, checking, rescue centres, animal agencies and phoning round vets.

She said but for the help and support of the police the family would not have got Betty back. DC Ornsby said: "It has a happy ending and a very pleasing experience.''

DC Ornsby and colleague DC Guy Meek said it was " intelligence led policing'' and that inquiries were continuing.

Dr Geiser said: "The message from all this is never leave your keys in the car.''