FIREFIGHTERS rescued a distressed dog who is thought to have been trapped on an old mill site for days.

The male Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who kennels staff have nicknamed Bobby, was stuck in a gully on the Brookhouse Mill site in Blackburn when he was found by firefighters.

Crews from Blackburn used ropes to drag him out of a steep ditch, filled with rubbish where he was trapped down the side of the old mill, off Brookhouse Lane.

His rescuers say he is thought to have been there for a few days, and he is said to have scratches and grazes on his face from trying to find food.

Firefighters brought him back with them to the Byrom Street Fire Station so he could get warm and have something to eat at 6pm on Monday.

The one-year-old male then captured the hearts of the firefighters before RSPCA officers turned up and took him to kennels for treatment.

He is now being treated at Aspen Valley Kennels in Oswaldtwistle where staff are trying to trace his owner.

If he is found to be a stray, however he has the offer of a home with one of his rescuers, red watch firefighter Charlene Winchester.

She said: “He’s such a lovely dog and I’ve fallen in love with him. We all did, he’s got such a good nature.

The kennels will see if his owner if looking for him and if not, he can stay with me.”

Crew manager Dave Hilliard said: “It was obvious when we got him back that he was pretty hungry!

"He’s a really friendly dog and we just hope he’s ok now. when we rescued him he just seemed so happy to see us.”

Kennels manager Georgina O’Connor said: “Aside from the grazes and scratches on his muzzle he doesn’t seem too badly off.

"It’s not often they come to us with the offer of a home already — he seems to have landed on his feet.”