A boy with special needs has been left devastated after his puppy was taken from a town centre car park.

Shiloh, a six-month-old springer spaniel/collie cross, was given to ten-year-old Samuel Hubbard to try to help him get over the sudden death of his grandmother in January.

Sam's mother, Mrs Jennifer Hubbard, told the Daily Echo: "This is just awful. He is devastated. He just keeps saying: 'I want my puppy.' I haven't a clue what effect this will have on him long-term. I just pray we get the dog back."

It was on Friday that Shiloh disappeared after being left in the open car park next to the Safeway store in Eastleigh town centre.

Mrs Hubbard, from Folkestone in Kent, was taking someone to Southampton Airport and had stopped off in Eastleigh briefly to have lunch. The day was hot, but Mrs Hubbard said she was away from her vehicle for no more than 20 minutes and had made sure Shiloh was comfortable before leaving him.

"I had taken the dog for a walk around the park, given him water and cooled him down. I left the vent open and two windows one and a half inches open. He was cool and there was air for him to breathe."

But when she returned just 20 minutes later she was met by a woman with long blonde hair wearing a pink T-shirt who told her the dog had been taken to the police station.

However, Eastleigh police say the dog was never brought to them. Sgt Julie Fry said: "The dog was last seen at 2.10pm. A woman saw a man and woman with a child in a pushchair with a dog similar to Shiloh."

Sgt Fry said police had also received reports of a dog with a red harness, matching Shiloh's description, getting on to a bus bound for either Southampton or Chandler's Ford. Police also know a member of the public went into a shop to report that a dog had been left in a car and was worried about it being such a hot day.

Anyone who can help trace Shiloh is asked to contact Eastleigh police on 0845 045 4545.