A reward for information about alleged dog snatchers has reached £12,000.

Rescue dog Jess was left to die on a roadside after her owner Geoff Parkinson believes thieves stole her from his kitchen in Ringmer, near Lewes.

Mr Parkinson thinks the thieves threw the seven-month-old border collie from the window of a fast- moving car when they realised she had an identity tattoo.

Since the incident, in April, animal lovers have raised £12,000 for a reward fund set up by users of a web site called Obedience UK. The sum includes an anonymous donation of about £8,000.

It will be rewarded to anyone who presents evidence leading to the conviction of the thieves.

Mr Parkinson, 36, was training Jess to be a rescue dog in disaster-hit areas of the world through the charity Rapid UK.

He says if the thieves are not caught the cash will go towards a training scheme for rescue dogs being set up by Gloucester-based charity Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters.

He said: "I have been overwhelmed by the response of the public."

Anyone with information should call PC Greg Brown on 0845 6070999.