A TREASURED pet dog cheated death after falling down a hidden drain and getting trapped for a week.

Now the case of Suky the Staffordshire Bull Terrier has prompted RSPCA officers to issue a danger warning.

Suky is recovering at her home in Shadsworth after going missing during an afternoon walk with owners Michael and Jean Barker.

The dog ran off and fell down the seven foot deep open drain, which was surrounded by waist-high grass.

Mr and Mrs Barker, who are both retired and registered as disabled, searched frantically, but the hole, on land opposite Pringle Street, Blackburn, was so well hidden that they could not find her.

Luckily, a week later, surveyors visiting the wasteland heard the dog whimpering and immediately called the RSPCA, who today said the site was extremely dangerous.

The land's owner's, Twin Valley Homes, said someone had foolishly tampered with the manhole cover, leaving the hole unprotected.

RSPCA inspectors Dave Anforth and Andy Kench went to rescue Suky, 11, and after searching to find the hole managed to attach a hook on to the bedraggled dog and hoist her out.

Inspector Kench said: "The land was so overgrown that the dog would not have seen the hole until she was right on top of it.

"It really is amazing that she survived the week in there. It was freezing cold and wet. Suky is a very lucky dog."

A relieved Mrs Barker, 67, of Rothesay Road, Blackburn, said: "We have all been really upset and the grandchildren have been crying all week."

Both inspectors described the open drain, which is at least two foot square and close to houses, as extremely dangerous.

"It was certainly big enough for a person to fall down and is a hazard for any children playing out on the land," said Inspector Kench. "If a child had fallen in they wouldn't be able to get out."

Although Suky was weak and in shock, she escaped her ordeal with just a few cuts and bruises.

Inspector Anforth said that it had rained just enough to give her plenty of water to drink, but any more and she could have drowned.

Blackburn with Darwen Council replaced the drain lid and secured it with rubble as a temporary measure to keep it in place.

Kevin Ruth, operations director for Twin Valley Homes, which owns the area's former council houses, said: "I am very sorry to hear about this incident and thankful that the dog has been found safe.

"This site was cleared more than a year ago and we are most conscientious about leaving cleared sites in a safe condition, but this shows what can happen when someone foolishly tampers with inspection covers. The missing cover is being replaced today."