DISTRAUGHT owners of a Crufts prize-winning dog which went missing a fortnight ago still have no news of their beloved pet.

They have offered a £500 reward for the safe return of miniature bull terrier Rafa and have placed posters around the area.

But there have been no further sightings of the dog, which went missing from the back garden of owner Mrs Elaine Clark and her family's home in Whalley Lane, Denholme.

"It's a mystery and the longer this goes on the more mysterious it becomes," said Mrs Clark.

"This weekend we're going to try to get out and trawl the moors in case he's somewhere up there.

"We are still hopeful he'll turn up, but of course as time passes that hope does diminish.

"People have been wonderful and extremely supportive and I would like to thank them for that. Dog walkers and lots of other folk say they are keeping an eye out for him and have been very encouraging."

Two-year-old Rafa beat off stiff competition from 85 other dogs in March this year to be crowned the best of breed in the miniature bull terrier category at Crufts. He followed this up with a victory at the Leeds Championship Dog Show, held at Harewood House in July.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Mrs Clark on 07711 734266 or 07740 520528.