A FAMILY who took in a dog found wandering the streets of Radcliffe quickly realised that it was the spitting image of a former pet.

The Percival family, of Meadowcroft, Radcliffe, were returning home from a Christmas party when they saw the female, sandy-coloured Staffordshire bull terrier near to the Londis shop in Ainsworth Road.

They took the dog home and tried to find its owner by contacting the police and the RSPCA but to no avail, so the dog stayed with the family over Christmas.

Mrs Dawn Percival said: "It was strange because straight away we all commented about how much the dog looked like my sister's old dog, Tara, that had died. Tara used to come and stay with us when my sister was away, and the children loved it and always wanted a dog of their own. But I told them that if we were meant to have a dog, one would just turn up and now she has! And we've named her Tara as well."

The RSPCA told Mrs Percival that if no-one claimed the dog after 30 days, the family was entitled to keep her and that is what they have decided to do.

Mrs Percival said: "Tara looks and acts just like Tara did and when my sister came to visit over Christmas, she wanted to take her home. We've treated her like one of the family since we found her. She's been bathed, wormed and de- fleaed and now sleeps at the bottom of my son, Luke's, bed."