AN angry dog-owner has contacted the Star to express her disgust at the callous actions of a motorist who ran over her pet puppy but didn't bother to stop.

Smudge, a 12-weeks-old spaniel/Jack Russell cross was killed after being hit by a car in Boundary Road, on Friday, June 13. But owner Margaret Crane was unaware of the incident until a passer-by contacted her 10 days later to say she had witnessed it.

Margaret, manager of the Duke of Cambridge pub in Duke Street, had originally planned to place an ad in the Star's 'Lost and Found' column appealing for news of Smudge.

She said: "We hadn't seen or heard anything until this Monday, June 23, when a woman contacted me to say that she had seen him get hit by a car in Boundary Road. The driver didn't have the decency to stop but she did and took him straight to the vets, although unfortunately it was too late as he was already dead." She added: "It is an offence not to stop if you have run over a dog and I just hope this driver realises the upset his thoughtless actions have caused. All my regulars loved Smudge and he will be missed by everyone."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.