A dog owner was today celebrating after police recovered her stolen cocker spaniel Jessie.

Elizabeth Shiel was over the moon to be reunited with her pet.

She said: "It's absolutely wonderful and I can't thank the police enough."

Officers found the 11-year-old dog being walked close to Mrs Shiel's home in Charles Street, Brighton, in the early hours yesterday.

PC Neil Betterton and PC Lou Davies recognised her immediately, having seen her minutes before she was stolen.

They were investigating a shoplifting on Tuesday night in Safeway, St James's Street, Brighton. Jessie was tied up outside while Mrs Shiel was shopping.

PC Davies petted Jessie as she entered Safeway, minutes before the dog was stolen.

Officers took Mrs Shiel's details and the next night they were scouring CCTV screens at the police station and spotted a man with Jessie near Pavilion Gardens.

They later challenged the man and took the dog straight to Mrs Shiel's home.

PC Betterton said: "It was such a coincidence that Jessie was stolen while we were in the shop and that we spotted her the next night on the CCTV.

"Goodness knows how many officers passed Jessie that night but because we had seen her just before she was stolen we recognised her straight away."

Jessie suffers from arthritis and Mrs Shiel was worried she might be in pain without her medication.

Today, Mrs Shiel said: "The officers contacted me at 3am to say they'd found Jessie. It was the best news I could have hoped for."

A man was helping with police inquiries.