A PET'S hunger for hosiery almost killed her when a stolen sock got lodged in her digestive system.

Owner Yvonne Davis, of Beaumont Road, Great Oakley, had taken six-year-old Labrador Fern to Kinfaun's vets in Dovercourt for her annual vaccination.

While she was there she asked if the vet could check Fern over as she had been unwell.

She said: "Fern had been ill over the weekend, just off and quiet.

"They said she was dehydrated and whisked us off to Little Clacton for an x-ray and emergency surgery that night. She went downhill very fast.

"The vet realised something wasn't right, thank goodness for her."

When vets took a look inside Fern they discovered a sock lodged in her intestines.

Still intact, the once fluorescent sports sock was removed and Fern was told to rest at home.

Mrs Davis said: “She’s feeling much better now but we are being more vigilant about socks now.

“She would sneak in and get them when I was doing the ironing, or my husband would leave his on the floor.

"You can't imagine how many off socks we've had.

"We've been very lucky that she's okay."