A mother has offered a reward for the return of her five-year-old son’s pony which she believes has been stolen.

Catriona Carnegie, of Ugg Mere Court Road, Ramsey St Mary’s, discovered Joshua’s pony Tic Toc was missing on Saturday, December 7, when she went to feed the 24-year-old Welsh/Shetland cross.

A week after he disappeared, Mrs Carnegie, 30, was joined by friends, who searched every field within a five-mile radius of her home.

Equestrians in the British Olympic team have joined a social media appeal for Tic Toc’s return. Dawn French and Gordon Ramsay have also shared the appeal’s links.

Tic Toc has a distinct thick, white, curly coat and a pink muzzle with black speckles. He was wearing a blue rug with purple trim when he was taken.

“He’s old, got arthritis and Cushing’s disease so I can’t imagine he’s done a Houdini and disappeared, so we believe he’s been taken,” Mrs Carnegie said.

“Joshua is absolutely devastated. He has grown up with his pony. Tic Toc is his best friend. All Joshua wants for Christmas is his pony back.

“I haven’t told Joshua that Tic Toc has been stolen because he won’t understand it. If we tell him someone else has him, he’d just tell us to go and get him back but we can’t.

“Tic Toc isn’t worth anything to anyone but to Joshua he is worth about £1million.

“I think someone has taken him for a Christmas present as they have seen him around and seen that he’s a good pony.”

With the help of a close-knit ­horsing community, Mrs Carnegie has been able to offer a £6,000 reward for information leading to the return of Tic Toc and a successful prosecution.

Mrs Carnegie said: “There’s a deadline on the reward of December – we want him back before Christmas.”

INFORMATION: Contact Mrs Carnegie on 07786 321658.