Epileptic chihuahua stolen from lorry yard in Derbyshire Published duration 17 May 2019

image copyright Dog Lost image caption Eric will be "absolutely mortified", said his owner

The owner of an epileptic chihuahua said he is concerned for the dog's safety after he was stolen and driven away in a white van.

Josh Fothergill, who regularly brings Eric to work with him, said he was stolen at a lorry yard in Alfreton, Derbyshire, on Tuesday.

The HGV driver, 49, said Eric was like a member of his family and urgently needed his medication.

Derbyshire Police said it was investigating the theft.

Mr Fothergill, from South Normanton, said his two dogs were wandering around the EWS yard on Meadow Lane Industrial Estate at about 21:25 BST when he saw a van turning around nearby.

He said: "I saw a van coming down the road, he turned around looking sheepish and I said 'what are you looking at?'

"I asked if he'd seen a little brown dog and he said 'yeah, up by that fence' but looking at the CCTV later you can see them running round chasing the dogs.

"They must have had him with them while I spoke to them, that was why they were so nervous."

image copyright EWS image caption Mr Fothergill said the thieves were in a white Mercedes Sprinter van, which was caught on CCTV

Mr Fothergill has had Eric for six years and said he had been "everywhere" with him.

He said when Eric has a fit he cannot stand up and "you have to be really careful with him".

"With all the stress that has gone off I would not be surprised if he had had a fit," he said.

"He means a lot to me, like a member of the family."