16 July 2008

A missing family pet was rescued after a week long ordeal trapped underground.

Timmy, a terrier, was pulled from the earth by a rescue team after becoming stuck in a pipe measuring just eight inches.

He had been out walking with his owner Angie Whittle and other family dog Meg when he vanished.

Meg came to the rescue a week later when Ms Whittle walked her round the area to locate Timmy and she alerted her owner to the terrier's presence.

However, Timmy's ordeal was not over just then because as Ms Whittle and a friend dug ten feet into the ground she realised they were digging in the wrong place.

"It was only when we cut the pipe that we realised the sound had travelled and Timmy was actually about 20m or 30m away from where we thought he was," said Ms Whittle.

The emergency services were alerted and the terrier was eventually freed within three hours.

Timmy was unhurt after his experience and suffered a minor slight eye infection.

A Guinea pig was recently found safe and well after being trapped for two weeks in a drain.