Thieves left two other puppies inside the kennel

An international hunt for two �10,000 pedigree puppies has begun after they were snatched from their kennels in a night raid.

The 12-week-old spaniels had already been sold to breeders in Australia and the US when they were stolen.

They were taken from a farm in Cheshire, whose owner fears they were stolen to order and could already have been shipped out of the UK.

Ozzie and Cilla, both black cocker spaniels, were sired by a Crufts winner, whose bloodline is said to be world famous.

On Thursday owner Sandy Platt, who lives near Chester and has been breeding cockers for 25 years, appealed for the dogs' safe return.

I just hope that whoever stole them will realise they are too hot to handle Sandy Platt, owner

She said: "These dogs are the equivalent of thoroughbred stallions or a Derby-winning racehorse. They are from a champion bloodline.

"The thieves left behind two golden pups so I'm fairly sure they came with the intention of taking the black ones."

Mrs Platt said she had received e-mails from breeders across the world, following the thefts in the early hours of last Sunday.

"They are all on the look-out for these pups and they are spreading the word," she said.

Buyers 'devastated'

"Anyone who knows anything about cockers will know about this bloodline. They are world famous.

"I just hope that whoever stole them will realise they are too hot to handle, leave them somewhere safe and let me or the police know."

The breeders are "devastated" the dogs have gone missing, she said.

"The breeder in Australia had been waiting five years for a dog from this bloodline," added Mrs Platt.