A dog fosterer has spoken of her happiness after being reunited with her four-legged friend thanks to a chance encounter.

Lesley Marlow had nearly given up hope of seeing runaway collie Daisy again - only to spot the canine sniffing around a lay-by off the A5052 at the exact moment she passed by.

Five-year-old Daisy had been homed in Sidmouth by Arc Animal Rescue Centre, but managed to escape from the garden of the property at the end of June.

Lesley, who looks after dogs on a foster basis for Arc, and colleagues embarked on a search, but, despite numerous sightings, ‘nervous’ Daisy managed to give those looking for her the slip.

Exeter resident Lesley, who had already spent several days scouring The Byes and other areas in Sidmouth, received a call in the early hours of the morning saying Daisy had been sighted near Sidmouth’s recycling centre close the the Bowd.

She rushed to the area and it was only when she saw something move that she spotted the dog casually sniffing around a lay-by on the side of the road.

“It was so freaky,” said Lesley, “If I had been five minutes early or late, she would not have been there. It seemed like fate.”

Lesley called Daisy, who instantly reacted to the familiar voice and hopped into the car.

“As she is so timid, she would not have come to anyone else,” Leslie added. “I did not think it would have been as easy as it was [to find her].”

She thanked the various people who tipped her and the Ottery St Mary-based animal centre off, about Daisy’s whereabouts.

Daisy is now up for re-adoption. Contact Arc on 0140 815487.