A man was arrested yesterday after police stopped a van containing up to 40 puppies on the motorway. Officers from Gloucestershire were called by a member of the public that reported seeing a man loading puppies into van on a residential road.

Officers checked out the van and then contacted West Mercia Police who stopped the van on the M6, before arresting the man and returning him to Gloucestershire.

Between 30 and 40 puppies were recovered from the van and the RSPCA are looking after them.

A spokesman for Gloucestershire Constabulary  said: “A man is in custody on suspicion of the theft of puppies today thanks to a call from a member of the public who reported suspicious activity.

“Police were called to Beeches Road in Charlton Kings yesterday afternoon (Saturday) following reports that a man was seen to have been loading a number of puppies into a van.

Photo: West Mercia Police