The puppies were found safe and well

Two stolen pedigree puppies, worth �10,000 each, have been returned to their owner.

The 12-week-old cocker spaniels were found at houses in Merseyside late on Thursday night and police made five arrests.

The owner of Ozzie and Cilla feared the puppies had been shipped out of the UK after they were taken during a night raid at her Cheshire farm.

But on Friday Merseyside Police said a tip-off from a member of the public led them to find the black puppies during searches of houses in Netherton and Crosby.

The puppies - which were sired by a Crufts champion - had already been sold to breeders in Australia and the US when they were stolen.

A police spokesman said: "We received information from a concerned member of the public as to the possible location of the puppies.

These dogs are the equivalent of thoroughbred stallions Sandy Platt, owner

"As a result search warrants were executed at the houses and the puppies were found safe and well.

"The puppies have now been re-united with their owner Sandy Platt."

Mrs Platt, who lives near Chester, has been breeding cockers for 25 years.

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

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

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

She said the dogs were so sought after, the buyer in Australia had been waiting for five years to get hold of offspring of the bloodline.