A CUSTOM-BUILT van built designed for an animal charity was stolen, leaving the volunteers and their dogs temporarily stranded in Birmingham.

The team along with 11 dogs from Cheshire Dogs' Home on Knutsford Road had travelled to the National Pet Show at the NEC Birmingham at the weekend.

Five of the dogs were looking for their forever home and had been taken out of their kennels to travel in luxury to the Travelodge Birmingham Streetly.

But some time between Saturday night and Sunday morning the van was stolen.

Trish Murray said: "You can imagine the devastation we felt on Sunday morning.

"We are restricted to what we can achieve in promoting the charity and our rehoming of so many lovely dogs."

Thankfully, a kind-hearted member of the public heard their plea for help and offered for the volunteers to use his van to get back to the charity base.

The van was parked at the Toby Carvery, next to the Streetly Travel Lodge Birmingham.

It is a white Transit van with the registration EK10 ESS.

One of the volunteers has set up a fundraising page in aid of Cheshire Dogs' Home

Hundreds of pounds have already been raised after the fundraising page was set up on Sunday. . 

To donate click here.