A FARMER whose dog was inside his Land Rover when it was stolen from a Gwent hospital car park has appealed for help in finding his beloved pet.

While 47-year-old Colin Alford (pictured), was attending an appointment at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, on December 10, his 4x4 red Land Rover 90 Defender was stolen - along with his Welsh collie Gyp, who was in the back of the vehicle.

"I had an operation on my leg last October and had an check-up appointment at 3.50pm last Monday," said Mr Alford.

When he returned to the hospital car park his Land Rover and dog had gone.

"I knew straight away what had happened and it made me feel quite sick," he said. "A vehicle is replaceable but Gyp isn't. He was part of the family."

The theft comes at the end of what has been a painful year for Mr Alford.

Apart from having an operation on his leg, Mr Alford, who keeps 1000 ewes and 100 cattle on his 300-acre Henbant Farm, Llanbedr, near Crickhowell, had 135 sheep and 15 cattle culled during the foot-and-mouth crisis.

"This has been the worst year for business in the 22 years I've had my farm and losing Gyp doesn't help," he said.

"Gyp works on the farm but is also a pet. My children are absolutely devastated and it would make their Christmas if he came back."

Gyp has long, black, shaggy hair with a white collar and stripe down his back and white on the end of his tail.

A hospital car park worker heard a bark at approximately 5pm and police believe the vehicle, with the registration P125 KAC, was stolen between 5pm and 5.50pm. Mr Alford is desperate to find Gyp and said: "Whoever stole my Land Rover knows where I live because of various personal belongings in the vehicle with my address on. I appeal to them to drop Gyp off somewhere in the vicinity."

Anyone with information should contact Abergavenny police station on (01873) 852273.