A YOUNG couple holidaying on a Greek Island found something unexpected at the end of the sun and sea break - a beautiful dog that will grace the home they plan to set up together.

Charlotte Hargreaves, 21, and Oliver Garside-Fox fell in love with the dehydrated and bedraggled black Labrador-Whippet cross who snuggled up under the sun-lounger next to theirs on the beach on the island of Halkidiki.

With just days to go before they returned to Blackburn they christened her Luna and decided to bring her home after feeding her ham from their lunchtime sandwiches.

Receptionist Miss Hargreaves said: "For a stray dog, we were taken aback by how gentle and friendly she was.

"It broke our hearts. We knew we had fallen in love and never wanted her to have to plan for her next meal again."

With the aid of Greek Animal Rescue and The Better Dogs Hotel in Thessaloniki they managed to persuade her to stay with them and get her fed, vaccinated and microchipped and then brought home to the UK.

Luna now splits her time between Miss Hargreaves family home in Highercroft Road, Lower Darwen and Mr Garside-Fox's house in Selborne Street in Witton.

Miss Hargreaves said: "We're now looking for somewhere to move into together and Luna is coming with us.

"She has settled in so well although the weather is a bit cold for her after Greece. We've bought her a little coat to keep her warm.

"She even gets on with our family dog Koko, an eight-year-old Schipperke. We just love Luna to bits."

Now the couple, who have had more than 1,000 views of their account of meeting and saving their new four-legged friend on their blog www.lovinglunauk.wordpress.com, are trying to help other stray dogs in Greece.

They have organised a Sponsored Dog Walk on Sunday September 9 from 6pm to 8pm on the Beamer Trailin Witton Park to raise money for the The Better Dogs Hotel to help with food, toys, medicine, vaccinations,and other costs.

All are welcome, with or without dogs.

More details are available about the sponsored walk and the canine shelter in Thessaloniki on a second blog by the couple www.lovinglunaandfriends.wordpress.com.