A FAMILY have been spreading posters around town in a desperate search to bring their much-loved pet pooch home after he ran away on Christmas Day.

The 11-year-old family dog Max, a striking Red Chow, was scared away from the doorstep of his home in Beardwood Brow, Blackburn, by fireworks being set off nearby just after lunchtime on Christmas Day and has not been seen since.

He has now spent two nights out alone in freezing temperatures and his family think someone may have taken him in, believing he is a stray.

They have searched high and low without success and have resorted to a poster campaign in the hope someone will recognise him and bring him home.

Although they are not feeling full of Christmas cheer, they have used a picture of Max in a Santa hat on the posters, in the hope it will touch someone's heart during the festive season.

Owner Lynne Sedgwick, who has had Max since he was born, said: "I am out of my mind about it, I really am. I have not slept at all since it happened.

"He often goes off around the area, people say they see him about. But he always comes back after half an hour or so.

"We heard the fireworks and we knew he was scared to death of them, but we thought he'd come back like he always does. This time, he didn't."

The medium sized dog, which has a black tongue and resembles a lion because of his shaggy mane, suffers from arthritis in his back legs.

Although friendly at home, he is not keen on strangers, but likes riding in cars and may have hopped into someone's car if their door was open.

Mrs Sedgwick said: "I know it sounds awful to say, but it has ruined our Christmas. We have had him for 11 years and it is terrible not having him here. I am getting so worried. The children are grown up, but they are still worried about him."

Her son Andrew, 26, has been putting up posters with his girlfriend Nicola Atkinson.

He said: "Normally he sits on the doorstep and comes back later, but then the fireworks went off, and he is scared to death of them.

"We had no Christmas Day, because we were just out looking for him the whole time. Mum is very worried. And I even missed Rovers because we were out looking for him."

Nicola said: "He's not even my dog, but I love him too. Everyone does, he's a lovely dog."

Although Red Chows are rare, the family do not believe Max has been taken because of his breed, as he is old and has arthritis. He also has an old injury to his lip, where a tooth went through his gum.