A NUMBER of mourning dog owners have been left devastated after their pets' ashes were stolen from a van belonging to an Ayrshire crematorium.

Crooks broke into a van containing urns, and boxes of remains of deceased animals in East Ayrshire on Monday morning.

The van belonging to Ayrshire Pet Crematorium Services in Irvine was set for delivery so owners could give their pet a fitting send off.

Traumatised owners are now desperate for their pet’s ashes to be returned.

Adele Markie has pleaded with crooks to hand the remains of her dog Boss who died last week into any vets so they can say goodbye.

She was left stunned when she found out from a social media post that the van had been targeted and ashes stolen.

She said: “I found out what happened from a Facebook post, there’s loads of worried dog owners who just want their pets back.

“They have taken all the boxes - the pets' ashes were inside white van with no signage so they can’t have known what they are.”

Adele is offering a financial reward for whoever can return the ashes to her and has hit out at the company who have admitted fault after leaving the van overnight in the drivers home area without pet owners knowledge or consent.

She added: “We just want them to hand the ashes in anonymously at a local vet, they are of no use to anyone anyone.”

Police have not launched a probe into theft of a number of items from a van parked in Hurlford.

A spokesperson for the force said: "Around 6.35 am on Monday, November 9, police received a report that a van was broken into on Drumleyhill Drive, Hurlford, Ayrshire, and a number of items were stolen. Enquiries into the incident are ongoing."

Ayrshire Weekly Press have contacted PCS Ayrshire Pet Crematorium for comment.