A dog-walker from Orpington is begging thieves to bring back her dogs after her locked van was stolen from her driveway.

Deborah Fisher, of Chalk Pit Avenue, is appealing for any information anyone may have after her four rescue dogs and her friend's Beagle were stolen last night at around 7pm.

Gallery1

The 58-year-old said: "It's my worst nightmare, I'm devastated, broken.

"I live on my own, the dogs are my life. I feel someone has done this maliciously.

"They're all old rescue dogs and the van isn't in good condition, I don't know what someone could get out of this other than to hurt me."

Deborah had locked the vehicle on her driveway as she was bringing in the last of her shopping into her house.

She said: "It must of happened so quickly. I had two bags of cat litter in the front seat left to bring in.

"I still had the key's in my pocket, they broke into the van and left the bags of cat litter in my driveway. They were gone."

Gallery1

Deborah suffers from mental health issues and one of her dogs, Roxy, is her therapy dog.

Her eldest dog, Trixie, was left to Deborah by her father in his will.

"Trixie is 17, she's deaf and blind and has kidney failure, I don't think she'll make it though this."

Her friend's dog, Ray, a beagle, was also in the van at the time.

The van is brightly decorated with dogs and paw prints.

Gallery1

Deborah's close friend, Emma Stevens, a 32-year-old dog groomer, said: "She doesn't care about the van.

"She's offering a £500 reward for anyone who can bring the dogs back, no questions asked.

"The van is decorated as a grooming business, but that isn't what the van was used for, it was just how Deborah transported the dogs.

"Deborah didn't go anywhere without the dogs, she's always had dogs and she loves them dearly, I'm worried about what will happen to her if she doesn't get them back."

Any one that may have any information is asked to contact Deborah on 07726 051338 or 0844 8003220.

The Met Police has been informed, anyone with information can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Gallery1

Read more: All the latest news from Bexley and Bromley

Escaped animals, unusual finds and news from the RSPCA can all be found here.

To get the latest updates in ongoing cases, police appeals and criminals put behind bars, click here.