A COUPLE who feared the worst when their dog disappeared from cliffs near Sidmouth have expressed their gratitude after being reunited with the pet following weeks of worry.

A COUPLE who feared the worst when their dog disappeared from cliffs near Sidmouth have expressed their gratitude after being reunited with the pet following weeks of worry.

Chocolate Labrador Suzy emerged on Weston beach last month (August 29) , two weeks and a quarter of an hour after she went missing on the cliff edge at Weston Mouth.

Owners Janet and Andy Rooms, who were holidaying in the area when Suzy vanished, made a desperate plea in The Herald and extended their holiday in the hope of finding her but eventually returned home to Basingstoke broken-hearted.

However the couple's fortunes changed when they received a phone call last week. Suzy was found by a Weston family and taken to Ikin and Oxenham vets in Sidmouth where she was checked over.

Mrs Rooms said: "She turned up safe and sound, albeit a little scratched. We have found the experience humbling and are heartened by people's kindness and the lengths that they are prepared to go to help. A lasting memory that we will keep is of the wonderful sense of community there is in the Sidmouth area.

We would like to thank Mrs Quilliam for finding her and all the residents of Weston who helped and supported us at a traumatic time and gave us faith Suzy would re-appear."

Mrs Rooms also expressed thanks to the Beer and Lyme Coastguard.

She said: "They made numerous attempts to find Suzy but she cheated them out of a recovery by making her way down to the beach."

The Coastguard has warned dog-walkers to keep their pets on a lead when on the cliffs. A spokesperson said: "You never know when your dog might be frightened by something or go off after another animal. It only has to happen once. I've known several incidents this year where people haven't got their dogs back Should your dog go over then call 999, don't attempt a rescue yourself.