For more than a week, regulars have been on tenterhooks, waiting for the vicious animal they thought would replace their beloved pub cat Bonnie.

But when three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier Meg turned up at the doorstep, they soon found she was more likely to lick them to death than anything else.

The good times rolled again when they realised Bonnie, who had been threatened with eviction by the brewery, could stay and the two creatures could be left to get on with it.

Quivering

Unfortunately ten-year-old Bonnie had other ideas.

Meg's owner Steve Culyer, new manager of The Vine in Tarrring High Street, Worthing, said: "They met in the pub. Bonnie was sitting on a stool by the bar and Meg was on the ground.

"It was really odd. Meg started quivering and shaking. She was obviously scared. Then Bonnie made a run for it through the back door. We haven't seen her since.

"Hopefully she'll come back soon and the two of them can be left to get on with it. I would put my money on the cat every time if there was ever any trouble. They have much longer claws. Anyway, Meg's never had a fight in her life."

When they heard the brewery, Dorset-based Woodhouse Inns Ltd, was planning to remove Bonnie from the Vine for a cooling-off period while Meg found her feet, more than 100 customers signed a petition demanding she stays.

The brewery relented and Bonnie was allowed to stay.

Steve, 41, who has run pubs in the London area for the past seven years, thinks three-year-old Meg was misunderstood as her good name was swept up in the campaign.

He said: "She's a very friendly pub dog. My concern was that she's not used to being with many other animals. It was never certain how they would react.

"The main concern was for the cat. She's been here almost a decade and perhaps she wouldn't like sharing her home with another animal.

"As far as we are concerned, Bonnie's welcome to stay, and hopefully she'll be back soon. We've never kept cats before but it's no problem looking after her.

"We could hardly leave Meg behind when we came. She's one of the family. I'm her dad."

According to accountant Ivor Calder, the owner of Bonnie's best animal friend, border collie Henrietta, Meg is lovely, if a little wary of her own kind.

He said: "Meg gets on fine with all the regulars, she's a real little sweetie. But she doesn't quite see eye-to-eye with Henrietta yet.

"Give it time and I'm sure she will, though. I don't think Bonnie has anything to worry about when she comes back."

Locals have reported several sightings of Bonnie since her disappearance on Wednesday, and miaowing sounds have repeatedly emanated from the other side of the pub's back garden fence.

Steve said: "We've left her food tray out but she hasn't been back. Bonnie's not the only one suffering. Meg's very nervous at the moment, too.

Beach

"We had an 80-mile trip in the car to get here and she's not used to long journeys. And being in a new situation with all our stuff still boxed up, she's nervous. Every time we move anywhere she seems to think we are running away."

But Steve and wife Sheila plan to stay put, thanks to the bracing sea air and walks on the Downs Sussex has to offer.

Steve, a shipyard worker in Newcastle for 20 years before starting up as a pub manager, added: "The first morning after we arrived Meg was on Worthing beach, running around and having fun. It's so much nicer her being here than in London.

"She absolutely loves it. I just hope Bonnie comes back to share it with her."

As soon as he saw Meg come through the pub door, petition organiser Ricky Horgan tore it from the wall, declaring there was no need for it.

He said: "It looks like it should be okay. I just hope Bonnie comes back to the home she knows and loves as quickly as possible. We all miss her a great deal."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.