A much-loved Siberian husky which escaped from its garden was sadly found dead on the A2 three days later.

The dog, which belonged to tree surgeon Phil Gower, is thought to have been hit by a car or lorry.

Mr Gower, 22, who lives between Dunkirk and Boughton on the A2, had launched a Facebook appeal after 18-month-old Timber escaped through a gap in a fence and disappeared into woods at the back of his home.

A number of people offered their support to look for Timber, who went missing at about 10pm on Tuesday.

But there were no sightings of him until the Highways Agency reported a dead dog on the A2 near his home on Friday morning.

Mr Gower, who lives with his grandparents, said: “We are devastated because he was a super dog. Living so close to the road it is something we feared. We thought the fence was secure but he found a hole to get through.

"We searched high and low but there was no sign of him.

“We are going to really miss him because he very quickly became part of the family and would even accompany me to work sometimes.

“The Facebook appeal got a big response and I would like to thank everyone who got involved and helped in the search. We have him back now and he is buried in the garden in his favourite place.”

Mr Gower, who has just enlisted as a member of the Royal Military Police Reserve, says he will not be getting another dog.