THE owners of a dog which went missing at Upton's Sunshine Festival have said a big thank you to Worcester News readers after being reunited with their much-loved pet.

Ronnie, a nine-month old white cockapoo, was on his lead but ran off as Sunday night's fireworks started earlier than expected and scared him off.

His distraught owners launched a massive appeal to get Ronnie back and a post on the Worcester News Facebook page was shared more than 300 times.

This morning, an eagle-eyed woman spotted something moving in foliage by the marina while travelling from Upton to Malvern and got her husband to turn the car around.

After seeing the Facebook post about missing Ronnie, she immediately recognised the dog and this afternoon Ronnie has been reunited with owner, Maxine Rawlins, from Warndon Villages, Worcester.

Her son Jack Martin said he could not thank Worcester News readers enough for sharing the appeal which was posted online and on the newspaper's Facebook page.

"It has brought me to tears how helpful people have been - nobody knows us but everyone has bent over backwards.

"It been brilliant and restores your faith in humanity.

"Just on the Facebook page we've had more than 300 people sharing the appeal.

"People we don't know have been going to look for him from Malvern and Upton.

"It was overwhelming. We are absolutely over the moon to get Ronnie back - it's been amazing.

"Thank you so much to all the Worcester News readers, they have been absolutely brilliant.

"It's so nice to know there's goodness in people. Thank you so much."