Seriously-ill Izaak Nunney is looking forward to being reunited with his pet ponies who disappeared just before Christmas.

A huge smile lit up the nine-year-old's face when he was told his miniature Shetland ponies had been found safe and well - and not stolen after all.

The ponies went missing the day that Izaak was discharged from St James's Hospital in Leeds where he is being treated for his leukaemia.

Izaak's family reported it to police and put a desperate appeal in the Telegraph & Argus, believing someone had stolen the animals as a Christmas present.

But all four of the ponies, two of which belonged to Izaak, were eventually discovered grazing in a garden of a house in Odsal and the woman householder rang the police.

Izaak's stepfather John Wilcock said: "We were so relieved when we finally got the good news. The ponies are now back safe and sound, under lock and key.

"We think they just managed to get out and wander off. They managed to make it five miles away from home."

Mr Wilcock added: "Izaak hasn't seen them yet because he's been back in hospital. We're hoping he'll be out maybe by the end of the week.

"He can't wait to see them again. A huge smile lit up his face when we told him they were back."

The ponies, which were originally given to Izaak as pets, went missing from a field at Tyersal Home Farm in Tyersal Lane on Christmas Eve.

His grandma Julie Nunney gave them to him in August when he was first diagnosed with his disease to try and cheer him up.

Izaak's mum Rebecca Nunney told the T&A doctors had warned her son not to go near dirt because his immune system was weak but admitted he still sneaked in visits to the farm when he was well enough because they kept his spirits up.

Izaak - who lives in Arkwright Street with his parents and brother Bronson, seven, and sisters Eilish, seven, and Kizzy, five - started an intense block of chemotherapy on December 15 and he had to be taken into hospital over Christmas with a temperature.