The search for Emma Bunton's dog Phoebe has come to a sad end. The star wrote on Twitter: "To all the amazing people who supported us at this horrible time, our precious Phoebe has been found and its terrible news, we are devastated".
Her tragic news comes just as Emma was increasing her efforts to find her beloved family pet, who disappeared during her walk earlier this week. The star had joined forces with the service Dog Lost to issue a poster featuring pictures of her Labrador retriever and offering a reward for her safe return. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.
There was a brief reprieve from the search when the mum-of-two joined her fellow Spice Girls at the Viva Forever cocktail launch at Harvey Nichols on Tuesday. The ladies teamed up with Jennifer Saunders, who wrote the Viva Forever musical, based on music from the band's back catalogue, and Judy Craymer, the show's producer. Emma, Melanie Brown, Geri Halliwell and Melanie Chisholm were all on form, although designer Victoria Beckham missed out due to couture commitments at New York Fashion Week.
Before their glamorous reunion, Melanie Chisholm also did her bit to raise awareness for Emma's missing dog, and used her own Twitter account to ensure people remained vigilant, adding: "Please help find Phoebe, Emma Bunton's beautiful brown Labrador, she went missing on a walk in East Barnet, Hadley Wood, Trent Park area." Melanie took time out to help her friend now that she has returned from a gruelling 100 kilometre sail along Zambia's Zambezi River, which she took part in as part of a Red Nose Day challenge. The star now continues to lend a hand back on home soil.Emma was left "in bits" at the beginning of the week when Phoebe, whom she described as a "gentle" dog, disappeared. Since she began her online appeal, thousands of people have retweeted her original message and offered advice, leading to the hope that the pooch would be found.