IT'S a waggy tailed ending for a bulldog who took a bus in to town on his own.

It might sound like a tall tail, but the mystery mutt did not paws before boarding the number 22 bus in Elm Grove, Brighton.

Passengers initially assumed the dog was with his owner - until it turned out he was unattended - and had not even paid his fare.

Despite his gruff face, the poor pooch was happy and calm, put on a brave face and did not even get the collie wobbles. And in a pawsome turn of fate he was returned home thanks to The Argus.

In a scene reminiscent of the hit children's TV series the Littlest Hobo, the homeless hound who looks like the pooch from the Churchill car insurance adverts, travelled as far as Churchill Square, on his mastif adventure.

Driver Steve Weir looked after him at the end of their journey in Imperial Acade until council dog warden Izzie Blanden came to rescue him.

And Argus chief photographer Simon Dack helped reunite man's best friend with his owners. After taking some pictures of the paw-lorn looking pooch at Priory Vale vets in Patcham where he was being checked over - Mr Dack stumbled across a group of children looking for a bulldog in Queen's Park.

After finally retriever-ing his beloved family pet Bullseye dad of two Scott Maynard, of Queen's Park Road said: “I went outside to talk to a neighbour and he must have escaped. He hates the rain so I wonder if he was trying to shelter from the rain.

“He must have run round the corner and maybe got on the bus to shelter from the rain.

“My two boys were devastated and we're so glad to have him back. It sounds like he had quite an adventure.”

It took a rott-weil-er of waiting but Bullseye was reunited with Scott, his partner Terrie Nott, and their boys Jimmy, three and Jake, nine.

Jakes friends were searching Queen's Park when Mr Dack saw them and help reunite the family.

A spokeswoman for Brighton and Hove Bus Company said that they were delighted that Bullseye's owners had been found and he will be welcomed back on board anytime and offered free tickets for life.

Brighton and Hove City Council dog warden Izzie Blanden described him as a “gorgeous red and white bulldog” and said he was “very calm” despite his adventure.