A beloved pet that was missing for a month after being snatched from outside a family home is settling back in, reunited with his owners.

Morse, a 10-month-old border terrier puppy, was finally brought home on Friday after he was seen being bundled into a pick-up truck on December 13.

Hit hardest by Morse's disappearance was three-year-old Edward Latter who wrote a heart wrenching letter to Santa Claus asking only for the safe return of his canine companion for Christmas.

The grizzle coloured pooch was discovered by postman Anthony Simmons and mum-of-two Michelle Holt around 20 miles away in Meopham, near Gravesend.

Edward's father, Richard Latter, 40, said: "He was very subdued when he came back. For the first day and a half he slept about the full 36 hours but now he's getting back to his old self."

The family is now planning to treat Morse to a run on a beach at Rye or Camber Sands.