A Harringay family celebrated a “Christmas miracle” after their stolen dog was found safe and sound.

Alison Okudzeto tied her pet Tequila to a pole outside Marks & Spencers, in Wood Green, on Friday, December 20, – but when she returned 20 minutes later she was gone.

CCTV footage showed two men untying the black dog from the pole and coaxing her away at around 3.30pm.

Ms Okudzeto and her two daughters, Isla, two and Eline, three, were heartbroken at the loss of the 11-year-old dog.

The mother-of-two said: “We were all devastated. It was horrible and we didn’t feel like we could look forward to Christmas.”

But late on Christmas Eve they received a phone call from a vet in Enfield telling them Tequila had been brought into the surgery.

Ms Okudzeto said: “It was a Christmas miracle and the best present we could have asked for.

“The vet said someone came and handed her in after finding her wandering the streets but she looked perfectly fine.

“I think whoever took her realised she wasn’t worth very much money so they let her go.”

The mother warned other dog owners to be careful with their dogs in the area around Turnpike Lane Tube station.

She said: “I want to tell dog owners not to leave their dogs tied up in Wood Green High Road because they could be stolen.

“I didn’t leave my dog out there for very long at all and the experience was really upsetting so people should be careful.”