Kent is the dog-napping capital of the country, it has been revealed.

More canines are stolen in the county than anywhere else in England and Wales - an average of two per week - and many are never reunited with their owners.

The investigation by the Mirror newspaper revealed more than 2,400 canines had been snatched nationwide over the past two years, including 205 from Kent.

It is thought many of the stolen pets are sold on the black market.

In Kent, the most popular breed among thieves is the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, with 41 being swiped since 2013.

This is followed by the German Shepherd, with 20 thefts, the Jack Russell with 18 and the springer spaniel with 16.

Kent Police says the county's proximity to Europe may encourage thieves to steal dogs from here in order to smuggle them out of the country.

A spokesman said: "Kent Police works closely with organisations such as DogLost to ensure that officers give victims of animal theft the best possible service.

"Dogs do have a financial worth and certain breeds can fetch high prices and are highly desirable.

"The reality is that any dog could be targeted by a thief and owners should be vigilant and micro-chip their pets.

"DogLost has provided Kent Police with a microchip reading scanner which has already seen a number of dogs reunited with their rightful owners.

"Police would continue to recommend that owners are vigilant, and take measures to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of crime.

In March, a family expressed their joy at the safe return of their beloved cocker spaniel Sampson, almost two months after he was stolen from their garden in Bilsington, Ashford.

The six-year-old pet was discovered during a police raid on a property in Ashford, and a man was arrested and charged with handling stolen goods.

Another cocker spaniel, Bolly, had a happy ending when he was reunited with his owners after being snatched from his owners' garden in Faversham in December.

A month later, he was discovered by police at a property more than 20 miles away in Staplehurst, and a man was arrested.