Bingo players in Bradford dug deep into their pockets last night to help a pensioner win back her beloved dogs.

Bosses at the Riva Bingo Club, in Tong Street, sprang into action after reading in the Telegraph & Argus how Rita Johnson's Yorkshire Terriers were given new homes while she battled for life in hospital.

Miss Johnson, 60, is desperate to trace Tinie and Benjamin, who were put into kennels by Bradford Social Services before being separated and placed with two families in Whitby.

Social services bosses say the matter is now out of their hands and the owner of the kennels says both families have become too attached to the pets to part with them.

Now - thanks to the generosity of its customers - Riva has pledged to buy another two Yorkshire Terriers and offer them as replacements to the families involved.

Mike Craig, its promotions manager, said: "It struck us that the new owners might be willing to part with Miss Johnson's dogs if someone was prepared to pay for new ones."

Last night kind-hearted customers donated £208 and Riva made the total up to £300.

One customer who has two standard Yorkshire Terriers puppies, a dog and a bitch, for sale offered them as a replacement to either party for £200.

Mr Craig said: "We showed the customers last night's story and everyone said, 'Yeah, great, we'll put some money in. We are really lucky here. Everyone responded and thought it was a great idea to try and help. We just hope this will have a happy ending now."

Miss Johnson, of Thornton, Bradford, who is prepared to travel the length and breadth of the country in search of the dogs she calls her "boys", said she has been overwhelmed by the kind messages of support she has received.

"I really appreciate everyone's help - this latest idea might just do the trick," she said.

The pets were taken to kennels in Doncaster after Miss Johnson collapsed last May. After making an unexpected recovery from two brain haemorrhages and a massive heart attack Miss Johnson returned home in November to find the animals gone.

Carol Rounding, owner of the kennels involved, said: "I will tell the new owners about this offer, but it may be that they have become attached to those particular dogs."

Social services says its staff acted in the best interests of Miss Johnson and the dogs.

It had waived its right to recoup the cost of the kennels, believed to be £500, in view of the pensioner's circumstances.

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