A PET owner will be in for a sad return from holiday unless the family's boxer dog is found safe and well.

Carol Preston, 41, of Craggs Farm, Whalley Road, Padiham, flew to Tenerife on Friday for two weeks with her four children, leaving Libby the boxer dog in kennels at Hapton. Now it has gone missing.

Carol's sister, Sandra Hartley, 37, of Milton Street, Padiham is desperate to find Libby before Carol comes home.

Carol's two youngest children, Adele, 15, and Zoe, 13, treat Libby as if she is another member of the family.

Sandra said: "I can't bear to think what this will do to them if we can't find Libby.

"I have been in constant contact with Carol but haven't plucked up the courage to actually tell her that Libby has run away.

"She would be absolutely heartbroken and would want to come home straight away if I told her. But there isn't any point in spoiling her holiday because she can't do any more than I am already doing.

"We need to find Libby as soon as possible because she has no road sense and will be terrified at being out on the streets on her own."

Sandra is currently in the process of putting together posters to distribute in the area.

Libby has been spotted in Haslingden near Deardengate and there are fears that he could have travelled as far as Blackburn.

The two-year-old, tan-coloured bitch has a black face and has an unusual feature of the fur on her neck growing in the opposite direction.

Anyone saeeing Libby is asked to contact Sandra on 01282 778933.