A NERVOUS dog which bolted at a motorway service station has been reunited with its worried owners, thanks to a team of pet detectives.

Spencer, a Shetland sheepdog, ran from his new owners at Strensham services near junction 8 of the M5 on Friday, May 6.

They had only just collected Spencer from Taunton in Somerset and were heading to their home near Wrexham in Wales when he slipped out of his collar.

As reported previously a search was mounted by Animal Search UK, including the use of a search dog from the Missing Animals Search Dog Association (MASDA), which picked up Spencer’s scent.

Spencer was found yards from the M5 just eight days after the search first began.

Michelle Williams, his new owner, said: “He’s settled in so well – it’s like he’s known us forever. He loves playing with his toys. It’s taken a few days for it to sink in.”

Tom Watkins, founder of Animal Search UK, said: “Within 72 hours of Spencer’s disappearance we had a team of 10 pet detectives, four patrol vehicles and more than 1,000 leaflets and posters being distributed in the area.

"In terms of resources and manpower this was the largest missing dog mission ever undertaken by the organisation.”

After a thorough check with a local vet he was given the all clear to finish his journey back home to Johnstown, near Wrexham.

To report a missing or found pet online it is free of charge – visit animalsearchuk.co.uk and madsa.org