LOST dog Lucy has been found safe and well seven weeks after going missing in Great Sutton.

The four-year-old bearded collie sparked off possibly the biggest 'doghunt' in local history when she vanished on April 30.

Her desperate owners put up countless 'missing' posters across the area and her plight was twice featured in the Pioneer.

But there was a happy end to the story when she was spotted yesterday (Tuesday) morning trying to board a bus and was handed in to the police.

Her delighted owner, Debbie Shaw, is now celebrating Lucy's safe return.

Debbie had given her to a Great Sutton family for adoption but Lucy slipped her collar just hours later.

Debbie, of Skelmersdale, said: 'She was found trying to get on a bus in Regent Street, Ellesmere Port. A man called Nick kindly carried her all the way to the police station.

'The officers recognised her straight away from the many posters we have put up about her around town and called us. She was wagging her tail at the station when she saw me. It's marvellous.

'I want to thank the Pioneer for covering Lucy's disappearance and keeping it in the public eye, and all the people across Ellesmere Port who helped the hunt because without them I would not have Lucy back.

'We can't believe it, she's been gone seven weeks. She's lost a lot of weight and some fur, but she's otherwise OK. We will take her to the vet's for a check-up then home again with us.'

Debbie and her family have been travelling repeatedly over to the Port to search for Lucy, put up hundreds of posters showing her picture and were even going to distribute leaflets at this week's Cheshire Show at Tabley.