A family has made an appeal for help to find out what happened to their pet pony, which vanished from its stable near Grove a year ago.

Since 14-year-old Dartmoor cross Polly disappeared, her owners have searched in vain to find her.

Hundreds of posters displayed in shop windows across Britain and visits to horse shows across the Thames Valley have failed to produce any leads.

Polly's owners believe she was stolen from her field near the Williams F1 racing team's headquarters, close to the main A338 Wantage to Oxford road.

They said bushes leading to the field were cut and a makeshift ramp left behind.

Thames Valley Police investigated, but the case was closed after three months. A spokesman said officers would be happy to follow up any new leads.

Ron and Hazel Culley, of Stockham Park, Wantage, had bought Polly for their grandchildren to learn to ride.

The couple and their daughters Jill Fisher and Jane Simpson, of Grove, and Julie Price, of Drayton, said they had not managed to get over losing Polly.

Mrs Culley said: "We'd had Polly for 13 years and she was like a member of the family. "Our friends and family have helped to search for her, and the police have been really helpful, but there's been nothing.

"It's a stab in the dark, but if anyone knows what's happened to her I would beg them come forward.

"We just want to know she's safe."

Mrs Culley said the family's biggest fear was that Polly had died.

She needed twice-daily treatment for laminitis, and was only allowed two hours' grazing at a time.

The family has bought a Shetland pony for Jill's daughter Sophie, eight, to ride, but said nothing could replace Polly.

Mrs Culley said: "It's like a piece of our hearts has been ripped out."

Polly's grey-white coat had been burned with a marker code reading R97R.

Anyone with information about the pony should call Wantage police on 01235 776050 or Mr and Mrs Culley on 01235 765680.