A DOG which went missing for five days was miraculously rescued from a badger sett thanks to the help of two eagle-eyed youngsters.

Terrier cross Harvey escaped from Downs Park, in Benfleet, while on a walk with his owners Paul and Diane Winters on Wednesday.

The couple turned to Tillys Angels - a group of volunteers who support owners searching for lost dogs - for help.

Helene Leader, who is one of the founding members of the group said: “We must have had about 200 people helping to search and put up hundreds of posters in Canvey, Benfleet, Leigh, Hadleigh – everywhere.

“Dogs normally stay close to home so we focused our searches in Benfleet. Adults had been going through that part of the park already but because it was so overgrown they had missed the badger sett.”

Youngsters Ben Ranson, 11 and Merrick Allard, 12, joined their mums in the search in the very park Harvey had disappeared from. When they pointed a torch on the badger sett, they spotted what appeared to be white fur.

Ms Leader added: “It all went a bit crazy, we assessed the situation and got in contact with the police, a badger protection group and the park rangers.

“You can’t just dig badger setts, they are protected so we had to get permission. Eventually Rayleigh Weir fire station got the go-ahead.

“I think he had been down there for the whole five days but he was fine - not very dirty – just very thirsty and overwhelmed by all the attention. He even had time to bark at my dog.

“He was taken straight to vets and treated for ticks - but other than that he was in good shape.

“Everyone did a great job and pulled together. Thanks to everyone that helped and gave up their bank holiday, because without them, we might not have found Harvey. And a big thanks to the fire service who were amazing.”

Tillys Angels was launched a year ago and now has 3,000 members.

Now Harvey is home safe, volunteers are focusing their search on Beau - golden labrador cross who has been missing from her Wickford home since last Tuesday.