A FAMILY who were on the brink of despair when their beloved pet went missing are celebrating his safe return.

The Muir family of Colne took Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Morgan, in when he was found in a terrible state in July after being tied to a post in Colne for four days.

When they appealed for information about his whereabouts last week they simply said: "He's ugly but we love him."

Now after more than a week of desperate searching of the area, Morgan, who it is believed was used for fighting and had been beaten by his previous owner, has returned home.

Sue Muir, of Derby Street, Colne, said that when Morgan ran off after one of his regular walks her whole family were devastated at the thought of him being out on his own again.

They were concerned because Morgan suffers from a medical illness which means he cannot eat normal dog food and has to take medication each day. Sue's children, twins Kimberley and Jamie, ten years, and 15-year-old Thomas were pining for the brindle and white pet to be returned.

Sue added: "I couldn't leave the house since he first went missing, just in case somebody called round or phoned to say they had seen him. He's not very good with his nerves because he's had such a rotten life.

"We had got to the doorstep and I had taken his collar and lead off and some children were setting off party poppers up the road and it startled him and he just bolted. The police managed to track him down in a garage in Burnley and brought him back and we were absolutely delighted.

"We were all crying. To some people he's only a dog but to me it was like someone had taken one of my children because we nursed him back to health after finding him a terrible state seven months ago. He is very special and is being spoilt now."