A heartbroken dog owner, who was offering a large reward for the return of her stolen puppies today tracked them down to a scrapyard after receiving a tip-off.

Alsatian bitches Sapphire and Crystal were found abandoned at the yard in Wakefield – two days after they were snatched from outside Joanne Coates’s home in Pudsey.

Miss Coates put up posters and appealed on Facebook for the return of the six-month-old dogs.

The pets, who are sisters, and valued at £300 each, were taken in a night-time raid at Wild Grove Farm, Pudsey.

Miss Coates, 40, who lives at the farm with her builder partner John Wright, 43, son Danny, 21, and daughter Jemma, 18, discovered the dogs were missing at 8am on Thursday.

After the dogs were found in good health today, Miss Coates said: “It is absolutely fantastic, we are just so happy to get them back and we want to thank everyone who has helped.”

Police have been investigating the theft of the dogs, which are microchipped.