A family returned from holiday to find one of their beloved dogs had gone missing.

Gill and Alan Boniface went to Gran Canaria with their son, Lewis, 16, leaving their two border collies Kassie and Skaboo with Gill's parents in Little Clacton.

Arriving back on Friday morning, they were upset to discover that Skaboo had been missing since Monday.

Mrs Boniface, of Mill Lane Close, Weeley Heath, said: "We don't usually go abroad because of the dogs, but my parents said they didn't mind, as we were only going away for a week.

"Mum let the dogs out into the garden on Monday night, but there must have been a hole in the fence and Skaboo went missing.

"It was awful finding out when we'd got back, absolutely devastating."

She added: "Kassie is Skaboo's sister, and is really missing him - we all are."

Mrs Boniface's other son, Ryan, has been distributing adverts, calling for the eight-year-old dog's safe return, while her parents have been walking the streets looking for him.

"We have been overwhelmed by the help we have had," she said.

Skaboo is black and white, with an undershot lower jaw, which means it is shorter than his upper jaw.

He also has a tooth missing from his front lower jaw.

If you have any information about Skaboo's whereabouts, please call the Boniface family on 01255 830884 or 07811 388123, or e-mail gillybon@hotmail.co.uk