THE smile on little Melissa Sweeney's face told its own story as she finally got to hug her stolen puppy which was missing for almost a week.

The five-year-old's family, of Gladstone Close, Blackburn, offered to pay £10,000 as a reward for the safe return of the dog, taken last weekend.

And the Rottweiler pup, stolen after thieves broke through a garden fence, was safely returned on Friday, after a tip-off that it had been sold in a pub.

Businessman dad Mike Sweeney had put up a reward of £2,000 for the dog's return and a further £8,000 if the thieves were convicted.

He is now planning to help others who have suffered the theft of a pet.

He said: "Hopefully this will send a message to the people who steal dogs. It has become a real problem."