French bulldog who disappeared in Stanley Park is found dead

One-year-old Maggie disappeared while on a walk with her owner, Teresa Cunliffe, 60, in the park on December 17.

She was suspected stolen, and hundreds of possible sightings poured in. A Facebook page dedicated to searching for the pup attracted more than 2,400 members.

Teresa, who lives in Poulton, said: "I got a call from a fisherman in Stanley Park and he said he had just recovered a body from the water, and we went down and recovered her and brought her home.

"It has been four weeks and four days of sheer agony trying to find her, searching for her, following so many leads and going through the underworld of pet peddlers and dog-nappers."

Maggie was last seen chasing squirrels among the autumn leaves in Stanley Park.

Teresa's husband Peter said: "I think she didn't know the difference between the land and the water, and she has just run into the water. These dogs can't swim very well; they've got a very heavy head and a heavy body. She must have gone straight down, because there were dozens of dog walkers looking for her, shouting her name."

The couple have now offered their thanks to the thousands of people who supported them in their search for Maggie.

Teresa said: "She had 2,400 people all searching for her. It has been overwhelming, the level of support and the most beautiful messages from people that have never even met us or met Maggie.

"We're able to have closure now. We were beginning to think she was being kept solely for breeding because she's just the right age for it. We thought she was being kept in a cage, locked up. At least now we can grieve for her. We can all say goodnight Maggie, and we'll miss you forever."