A FAMILY in St Helens feel like they have 'won the lottery' by being reunited with their dog after six years.

Fern was stolen from Tom and Jodie Ferrier's farm in Chessington, Surrey, on April 28, 2013.

They searched the area, told the police and even set up a Facebook page called 'Find Fern' which gained over 14,000 followers.

Their son Ethan was hit hard by the loss and in 2015 he wrote a letter to the thieves asking for his dog back.

But, when the family moved to the Isle of Wight in 2014, they thought all hope of a reunion was lost.

So it was a huge shock when Jodie received a call at 4.30pm yesterday afternoon saying Fern had been found in Bracknell.

She said: "I was just getting the dinner ready as normal when I got a call from Twyford Veterinary Clinic in Reading. I just broke down, I couldn't believe it.

"Once I'd composed myself, picked myself up off the floor and composed a crying Ethan, we got on the next available ferry."

Fern was found wandering down a road when a man spotted her and took her to the vet — her microchip revealed that she was Tom and Jodie's dog.

The black cocker-spring spaniel was just one year old when she was taken, and Tom said it is like winning the lottery to have her back.

He said: "It has been at the forefront of my wife's mind for the past six years.

"It was heartbreaking when it happened and we travelled through the night and only got back to the Island about half four this morning."

It is suspected that Fern was stolen for breeding, as she has had several litters according to the veterinary practice.

Although she is in need of some tender loving care, the family say she is generally in a good condition and they can't wait for her to enjoy her new life on the Island.

Jodie continued: "Fern doesn't know anything about living on the IW. She came here on a holiday when she was little but she is settling in so well."

"Now we can get to having the life together we were meant to have. It's like a black cloud has been lifted fro the last six years of my life."