A delighted dog owner has thanked strangers for their ‘overwhelming support’ in helping find her missing dog.

Julie Barrett, of Beer, said ‘a piece of her heart was missing’ when beagle Cherry ran off in the cliff-top Jubilee Gardens.

Her mum Sue had been walking Cherry, three, when the dog was startled by a gunshot. Julie, a wheelchair user, was unable to search for her dog and appealed to friends, family and Facebook users for help. Cherry was found a day later by a gardener. Julie said: “So many people helped look for her. We are totally overwhelmed by the support both by friends and strangers. The village really rallied around to help us.”