RESIDENTS feared the worst after a family pet became spooked and ran away.

Derek the springer spaniel bolted after becoming frightened by another animal during a walk last Friday.

The pup had been rescued from a village in Crete just four months earlier.

An appeal was launched in a desperate attempt to find the hound and this received an overwhelming response.

Word spread about the missing dog across social media and soon a large number of people from as far afield as Basingstoke had co-ordinated a series of search efforts.

Worthing Borough Council’s dog warden Russ Akehurst was also called shortly after the pooch was reported missing to help with the search.

The hunt was made harder as Derek was being looked after by a Worthing family as his owners were on holiday, meaning there were no familiar walks or parks that he could have gone to.

Derek’s owners prepared themselves to end their holiday early and return to Worthing to help find their beloved pet.

But the search had a happy ending as a couple driving near Ferring spotted Derek walking by the side of a busy road on Sunday.

Russ said: “I’ve spoken to his family who are overwhelmed by the support of the local people who gave up their weekends to help search for Derek, and for the hundreds of well wishers who were praying for his safe return.”