A missing dog which ran four miles along railway tracks was captured on CCTV leaving behind a trail of blood on a train station platform.

Staff-cross greyhound Max bolted from Whitstable and headed along the live line towards Herne Bay after he was startled by a loud bang yesterday morning.

His devastated owner Mark Sewell, 49, of Love Lane, Faversham, says the eight-year-old rescue dog was seen on camera clambering onto the platform at Herne Bay station.

But he then climbed back down onto the tracks and headed towards Birchington, with no reported sightings of him since.

First aid trainer Mr Sewell has spent hours desperately searching for Max with his banking director wife Melanie - posting flyers in Whitstable, Herne Bay and Birchington - but the hunt has so far proved fruitless.

He said: "I can’t even put into words how I feel right now. Max and I are inseparable. We go everywhere together.

"I’m just hoping the blood was from a small cut on his foot. Hopefully it will slow him down a bit."

Mr Sewell and Max had taken the train to Whitstable with the intention of walking back to Faversham.

"It sounds horrible, but even if we had a body we’d at least know where he was..." - Max's owner Mark Sewell

But Max was frightened by a loud bang as he was tied up outside Whitstable Harbour at 10.30am.

Mr Sewell said: "I went into the fish shop when I heard this bang – possibly a boat hitting the harbour wall.

"Max slipped his collar and ran off back to Whitstable train station."

The sprightly dog was seen on CCTV climbing onto the tracks at Whitstable station and heading towards Herne Bay.

He was then captured on camera again 30 minutes later at Herne Bay station, but Network Rail has had no reports of a dog being seen since.

Mr Sewell, whose daughters Abigail, 11, and Phoebe, nine, are distraught, said: "Network Rail said they haven’t found a dog on the tracks or by the tracks.

"It sounds horrible, but even if we had a body we’d at least know where he was.

"The house is so empty at the minute. The whole family are devastated. We just want Max home."

Have you seen Max? Call our news desk on 01227 475915.