Firefighters have been praised after a dramatic rescue of a puppy which had got lost underground.

Nick Gaunt and his family were visiting a paddock in Gosfield Road, Sible Hedingham, with six-month-old retriever Buster, but while the family were mending a fence, the dog ran down a rabbit hole.

Mr Gaunt realised his dog was down the hole but could not encourage the pet out.

He said: "I was calling down the hole but my wife could hear the dog from another hole farther away."

They called the fire brigade who tried to help, but realised they needed more specialist equipment.

Acting lead firefighter Dave Sainsbury said: "We decided to call the Urban Search and Rescue Team from Southend and, before they arrived, they contacted one of their members, a chap called Steve Man, who brought his terrier Charlie along.

"He put a tracking device on the dog and sent him down the warren while we dug.

"After about half an hour Charlie had found Buster and managed to coax him out."

The dramatic rescue took place on Saturday and Mr Gaunt, of Haverhill, wanted to thank all the firefighters involved.