A COUPLE who were touched by the plight of stray dogs abroad set up a fund to save them and held a fundraising day.

John Sales, 40, and his partner Alison Wadey, 58, spent eight months in Cyprus and were so appalled at the treatment of the animals they encountered they brought two dogs home.

The couple, who live in Brighton Road, Lancing, held a fundraising day in their bid to see more recued . The event was held at the Old Boat Corner Community Centre in Carden Hill, Brighton, with stalls, a bouncy castle, barbecue and raffle and people dressed in Star Wars uniforms to welcome visitors at the gate.

The 501st UK Garrison, a volunteer-run enthusiast group with 450 members in the country, was dressed up in Star Wars outfits.

When the couple were in Cyprus they heard tales of dogs being beaten and discarded because they were not hunters or workers and came across one dog on its last legs and decided to save it.

They spotted another in a pet shop and decided they could not leave it behind either.

So the two dogs, Banjo, a grey Cyprus poodle, and Nala, a white mini labradoodle, came back from Cyprus with them.

Mr Sales said: “Banjo was skin and bone when we got him back home.

“We visited Nala in the pet shop and went back the following day and you could see he was so happy to see us.”

Before they returned, another dog wasn’t as lucky.

Named Billy, they discovered him in a rubbish bin and took him to a vet in Cyprus but he died.

Pete Billups, 44, helped co-ordinate the fundraiser and wore a Star Wars Star Destroyer captain uniform.

He said: “We are geeks and love what we do.”

The couple set up the event hoping to raise money for sanctuaries in Cyprus which feed, neuter and care for dogs before hopefully finding them new homes. However, they say they won’t stop with Cyprus.

Mr Sales said: “It’s just as bad elsewhere, in Greece, Hungary and Eastern Europe.”

“All the dogs want is to live in a caring home. There is no way I wasn’t going to bring them back.

“People have a voice but dogs do not. They need someone to speak on their behalf.”

Search “the strays of Cyprus” on Facebook for more information.