Fluffy four-year-old Buster bounded off to chase a deer while out on a walk with his owners and didn't come back.

Kelly and Craig Lawfull were visiting the area with their children Sophy (9) and Madison (6) when the dog disappeared from the beginning of the Great Glen Way.

After a fruitless search helped by a number of local people they even pinned up hand-made posters offering a reward for his safe return.

But the family, from Dursley in Gloucestshire, who were staying at the Beinn Loy self-catering cottage in Glenloy, were devasted at having to undertake the 10-hour drive home without him.

And just when they were beginning to despair of ever seeing Buster again, they received a call from Chris Bryant, an instructor at the Loch Eil Outward Bound centre at Achdalieu, to say he had found him.

Kelly (35) said: "I was so happy I dropped the phone. We thought he'd gone forever and we were all devastated. The girls couldn't stop crying."

Two days after Buster went missing, Chris had spotted the lost and hungry dog while kayaking on the River Arkaig, 10 miles from where Buster went missing.

Madison (left) and Sophy pictured with Buster before he went missing.

At first he mistook the dog for a sheep and then momentarily thought he was a wolf.

Chris said: "Buster was filthy, covered in briars and blood and looked like he'd been in the river and the bogs so I took him home and gave him a shower and few tins of tripe."

And luckily Kelly's phone number was attached to the dog's collar so Chris was able to ring and let her know the good news.

She said: "I got the call asking if I had lost a German Shepherd and I couldn't believe it, I drove straight back up to get him."

Kelly added: "We want to say a big thank you to all the people who helped look for Buster, and especially Chris who rescued him. It was our first time in Scotland and although we already knew the people were friendly, we were overwhelmed by their kindness in trying to find our dog. We will definitely be back for another holiday."

In the meantime, the Lawfull family has sent Chris the £200 reward which he previously refused, insisting he enjoy an early Christmas treat.

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