�A couple are appealing for the return of their beloved pet lizards after they were taken away in a mix-up at a Rainham pet shop.

Robert and Terri Hills, of Dagenham, left their bearded dragons, Ruby and Lily, with Cold Blooded Pet Store’s holiday service in The Broadway, but came back from their trip to find that due to an error, someone else had walked away with their pets.

‘Part of the family’

Mr Hills, 28, said: “For us it was the fact that we’d had these lizards for so many years that they’d become part of the family. Our two-year-old daughter was really attached to them as well.

The family have had the animals for four-and-a-half years and Mr Hills added: “It would have been on May 20 that the person walked away with it. We’re just hoping they’ll read this and realise.”

The bearded dragons are 2ft long, one has a light green face and the other a more orange one.

Both have the tops of their tails taken off, which means they have less re-sale value than other lizards.

Store owner Paul Rose said there was a mix-up which meant for the first time in the store’s 18-year history someone went away with the wrong pet.

He has apologised to the Hills and offered them a replacement or compensation, although he said he understands it is not the same as finding their original pets.

The man who took the wrong lizards was white, in his 30’s with short cropped hair. His lizards are still in the store.

n If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of the lizards, call the Recorder newsdesk on 020 8477 3796.