A FAMILY are devastated after their pet dog was stolen from their front garden.

Steve Connell, 39, of Ambleside Walk, Canvey, said his family's beloved pet Tango was left alone in the front garden for just five minutes when he believes he was stolen yesterday afternoon.

Since then dozens of friends of the family have been looking for Tango, a seven-and-a-half year old Blenheim King Charles Cavalier dog that the family adopted four years ago.

It has left Mr Connell’s daughter Amy, eight, in floods of tears.

Mr Connell, a landscape gardener, was out when the disappearance took place at about 2pm, but he received a distressing call from wife Wynette, 37.

He said: “My wife had let the dog out because we have a fence and gate there, and she had checked the gate was locked.

“But within five minutes he was gone. When she checked she realised the gate had been opened and not shut properly.”

Following the phone call Mr Connell searched non-stop for Tango, who has brown-and-white markings and a fluffy tail, but has had no luck in finding him.

He said his two sons Chris, 17, and Tom, 16, had contacted friends about the disappearance and a large search party had been out looking for the dog, who was wearing a red-and-white England collar when he went missing.

Anyone who finds or has seen Tango can call the Echo on 01268 469337.