A COUPLE from Cumnor have said they are 'devastated' after the van containing their labrador's ashes was stolen.

Carol Humphris and her husband David had owned black rescue dog Lottie since she was two-years-old.

Following issues with arthritis and diabetes she had to be put down aged 13 last month.

But rather than being able to bring their beloved pet home, their loss was magnified when they received a call from vets K J Fraser, based in Abingdon, to say her ashes were gone.

Mrs Humphris said: "It was the day we were due to pick them up. It was absolutely devastating."

The van, which belonged to Lime Kiln Crematorium in Stroud was stolen from The Sunground in Avening, Gloucestershire overnight on Wednesday, July 25.

Despite a police investigation neither the van nor its contents, which includes a 60 litre plastic container with dozens of individually labelled pets' ashes inside, have been found.

Mrs Humpris, 70, said: "It has been absolutely awful not having the closure of this remaining part of Lottie coming home.She was a lovely dog and very well known in the village as she loved chasing after balls. There were a group of rescue dogs who would all meet up on the village green, they used to be called the four o'clock club."

Pet owners in Gloucestershire, Buckinghamshire, as well as around 18 from Oxfordshire have been impacted by the theft.

A social media campaign to appeal for information has since been started by Laura Peskin from Marlow, whose dog Matty was among the ashes stolen.

She created the Facebook page Help Find Matty My Lhasa Apso's Stolen Ashes and has since been in contact with fellow pet owners affected, including Mr and Mrs Humphris.

Emma Tiri, spokeswoman for Medivet, which runs the Abingdon veterinary centre, said: "We were very concerned to hear about the theft of Lime Kiln Farm’s van, and the pet ashes it contained, from our practice and other practices in the area.

"Our main concern has been for our clients and the other pet owners who have already gone through the trauma of losing their pet, and now have to deal with the loss of their ashes as well."

She added they would be helping pet owners in any way they can.

A spokesperson for Lime Kiln Crematorium added the company 'couldn't be sorrier', saying: “What makes this theft sadder is the lack of value other than the sentimental importance of the ashes."