While walking her dog off the lead at Deans Farm, Piddinghoe, landowner Lorraine Sylvester saw her pet, Lilly, being placed in a dark grey vehicle – possibly a 4×4 – which stopped on the C7 Lewes-Newhaven Road nearby.

The terrier-sized mongrel, with light reddish, fox-like fur, had run off at around 5.10pm on Bank Holiday Monday (4 May) when the incident happened.

It may be that the motorist took up the dog for safety, being concerned for its welfare on the often busy rural road, or it may have been in collision with a vehicle and taken to a veterinary surgery.

Police are now trying to reunite Lilly (pictured) with her rightful owner and are asking that anyone who saw the incident or who knows of Lilly’s whereabouts to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or phone 101, quoting serial 1139 of 4/5.