A stray puppy spotted hiding in woodland for almost a week has finally been rescued after villagers came together to save it.

Lucky, a Beagle cross, was first seen wandering around fields in Tilmanstone near Deal by resident John Brewin when he was walking his two dogs.

After posting about the sighting on social media in an attempt to find the owner, more people began sharing information about the pup.

"I saw it in the woods and it built up from there," Mr Brewin said.

"Earlier in the week, I laid food and a camera trap that caught Lucky going to the food overnight."

Each time the pup was spotted, people tried to help it but attempts to call it over were unsuccessful.

Eventually, after six days, when it was spotted hiding in the undergrowth near Pike Road, villagers rallied together to try and get it out.

Barbara Tothan, who was involved in the search, said: "She got herself in a tree stump burrow.

"We were concerned it might have had puppies so we took some food to entice it out.

"My neighbour Maria managed to crawl onto her belly through the undergrowth but Lucky kept moving away; it was obviously scared.

"Then my husband climbed in with a rope and pulled it out.

"Lucky didn't growl, or try to bite, just accepted it. I think it was exhausted."

'Microchipping of dogs is now a legal requirement...'

Lucky was then taken to Pets at Home vets in Whitfield where staff carried out checks.

They confirmed it was about 10 months old and had not had puppies.

Lucky spent the night with a foster family before being picked up by the dog warden and taken to Dover District Council's stray dog kennels, where it remains.

The dog warden contacted the keeper registered on the microchip but the details were out of date.

The previous owner said they had rehomed Lucky six months ago and they did not know the new owner's details.

The council says that, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, stray dogs must be retained for seven days to give owners the chance to claim their pet.

If nobody comes forward, Lucky will have to be rehomed.

A Dover District Council (DDC) spokesman said: “We would remind everyone that microchipping of dogs is now a legal requirement and is an essential tool in identifying owners of stray dogs such as Lucky.

"Owners have a responsibility to keep their pets’ microchip data up to date.

"DDC has prosecuted pet owners who have not fulfilled their duty in respect to microchipping, after being served a notice requiring them to do so.”