AN INTENSE nine-hour rescue mission was carried out by Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Services after a pet Patterdoodle became trapped at the bottom of a drain.

Eight year old Moppit had been missing for a day and night when her owner Rachel Stormonth Darling, who lives in Iwerne Minister, heard faint whimpering in her neighbour's garden.

Rachel said: "Moppit had run up the empty stream the previous day chasing after a rabbit. It was only on a hunch that I decided to check the garden one more time and heard a very faint sound. It turned out that Moppit was stuck right beneath a lean-to building."

Stuart Gillion the station manager from DWFRS was able to assess where the stream and tunnels went under the lean-to building. Mark Gleave, the owner of the property gave permission to the family to get the dog out.

After many hours of intense digging, map writing and videos of the various canals, the Exeter Urban Search and Rescue Team led by Matt Mason rescued Moppit who was dragged through a small crevice between huge stones to safety.

Rachel added: "We are all so relieved that the whole ordeal ended happily for Moppit. She's the luckiest dog alive. We would like to give a huge and heartfelt thank you to the Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service along with the USAR, Exeter Urban Search and Rescue Team who worked together, tirelessly and professionally for so many hours."