THE QUEEN has sent "good wishes" to those behind a campaign to trace a stolen husky dog from Bradford.

Murphy, who has been microchipped, went missing on December 4 last year after a suspected abduction by two men in Scholemoor Cemetery.

Now a friend of four-year-old Murphy's owner Andy Smith, Lyndsey Reed, has written to The Queen at Buckingham Palace inviting her to one of the walks to be held next month to raise awareness of Murphy's disappearance.

Murphy's Army - The Great British Walk will see 49 one-mile walks being held simultaneously at locations across Britain on Saturday, March 28, from 1pm.

The letter, addressed from Sonia Bonici, senior correspondence officer at Sandringham House dated February 5, was written on behalf of The Queen.

It says: "It was thoughtful of you to invite The Queen to attend the Great Britain Walk.

"I must tell you, however, that it will not be possible for The Queen to do as you ask.

"Her Majesty's diary is planned many months in advance and has already been finalised for that time.

"In addition, The Queen has made it a rule not to give her support to, nor to endorse individual projects or campaigns.

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"But I send you good wishes for a successful event next month."

Mr Smith said: "I was shocked when we got a reply. I did not expect one.

"I certainly wasn't expecting her to turn up with her Corgis.

"We are still no further to getting Murphy back. I'm never going to give up. The people who have taken him should realise that.

"It's the not knowing that's killing me.

"The support for the walks has been unbelievable. It's massive now.

"We have about 200 people so far who have said that they will come to the Bradford walk already.

"The walk is to raise awareness of all of the dog thefts that are going on. We have 40 county walks going on in England and nine in Wales."

The Bradford walk meets at Centenary Square with everyone welcome to attend.

Bradford West MP George Galloway, Shipley Councillor Kevin Warnes and Cllr Ralph Berry have all said they will attend the Bradford walk.

Facebook page Get Murphy Home has been liked more than 37,000 times, with users sharing possible sightings.

Murphy's campaign has also received celebrity backing through the likes of Bradford illusionist Dynamo and comedian Johnny Vegas.

David Cameron condemned the theft of Murphy during Prime Minister's Questions last month.

For more details, go to murphys_armyGBW on twitter and the Murphy's Army - The Great British Walk Facebook page.

Anyone with any information about Murphy can contact Mr Smith on 07759 851895.