An "upset" police dog has gone absent without leave after being castrated, officers said today.

Klaus, a two-year-old German shepherd, is used to facing up to the cut and thrust of police work.

But one particular cut, the routine operation to chop off his testicles, proved too close to the bone for the hound who last night clawed his way through a fence at his handler's home in Southend, and raced off into the night.

British Transport Police spokesman Simon Lubin said: "He is a friendly dog who has been with the force since last May. He helps out with public order situations such as policing the football trains and carrying out searches.

"But he had an operation a week ago which he is still recovering from - he was castrated so he is understandably a bit upset.

"He somehow clawed and dug his way through a fence and has not been seen since."

Klaus wears a brown leather collar with a brass metal plate bearing the words British Transport Police.

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