Ben's back home - thanks to his friends

Melanie and Nick Rushby, London Road, had returned from holiday to find their cross-breed Ben had gone missing from Battle Boarding kennels.

Covering every angle, the couple got in touch with the Observer, rang round anyone who might have seen him and put posters up in the area he was last seen.

Two hours later, calls were coming in thick and fast as Melanie and Nick searched Battle Great Wood.

Melanie said: "We were actually at the woods for about four hours. Anybody who had seen Ben said he looked very nervous and so it was difficult to coax him out of hiding.

"We had somebody ring up when we were on our way back home from putting up posters.

"I came home to get our other dog, Toby, as I thought that might help, and there was another message on the answer phone from a woman saying she had seen him about two hours before.

"The community spirit at the woods was fantastic.

"Everyone has been so lovely and we are just so glad to have found him.

"He is very skinny after being on his own for nine days, but he is ok."

Ben was due to be checked by his vet, but Melanie was sure he was unharmed by his experience and could expect alot of attention as a welcome home.