THE rescuer of a dog that went missing from York and turned up 200 miles away has described how he found her.

Tia, a springer spaniel, was spotted beside a road in Watford, but her owner does not have any idea how she got there.

Darren Yates was walking Tia near Millennium Bridge in Fulford on Bonfire Night when a firework spooked her and she ran away.

She was found some two weeks later by Sean Maguire, who saw the car in front of him almost hit something as he was driving near his home in the Hertfordshire town in the early hours of the morning.

Realising it was a springer spaniel in the road, Mr Maguire pulled over and whistled to get the dog’s attention. Tia was almost hit again by a car driving in the other direction.

Mr Maguire said: “It was raining and dark and the dog was very muddy, wet, had bleeding feet and was shaking badly. I picked up the dog and walked about with it but there was no one around.

“I knew I couldn’t leave the dog, so I took it in my car back to my house. Me and my dad then went back out and drove around to see if anyone was out looking for it, but we had no luck.”

The next day he took her to the vet and she was scanned for a micro chip and they were able to contact Darren.

“Darren thanked us for taking Tia in,” Sean said.

“To be honest, I would have been happy keeping her if she didn’t have a home, but I’m very happy Tia is safe and home now.”