WHEN Paddy the Jack Russell went missing, an entire army of helpers mobilised to look for him.

The search for Beth and Neil McGovern's lost pet developed into an textbook exercise in neighbourly co-operation.

And the "Get Paddy Back" campaign paid off.

After nine anxious days, the loveable Jack Russell was found and returned – just in time for Beth's 42nd birthday.

"We were absolutely distraught when he went missing," says Beth, a part-time shop assistant and mother of two. "We bought Paddy through an ad in The Sentinel when he was just a pup, and you couldn't want a more friendly and playful little dog.

"Paddy hasn't an aggressive bone in his body. He's a homely, family dog and everybody loves him."

When the front door of the McGovern's home in Mayfield Place, May Bank was accidentally left open, Paddy decided to go for a little wander.

Unfortunately, he didn't come back. Local residents quickly got together to help the couple search for their pet – a mainly white Jack Russell with tan patches.

"The local community were fantastic," said Beth. "They helped us get posters of Paddy into shop windows, all around Wolstanton Marsh, and on benches and lamp-posts."

House-to-house inquiries were made, and when a mass search of the Marsh failed to find Paddy, a Facebook campaign to "Get Paddy Back" was launched, while the local Dial A Dog Wash service put Paddy's details and photo on their website and sent emails to customers, colleagues and suppliers.

"Looking back, it was funny that we all met on the Marsh on St George's Day and the name we were all shouting was Paddy," says Neil, a 40-year-old HGV driver. After nine days, a couple collecting scrap metal in a van spotted Paddy and recognised him from a photo in a shop window.

"He was only a few streets from home, and they kindly brought him back to us," adds Beth.

"It was the day before my birthday, and I couldn't have wished for a better present.

"It was a truly fantastic moment, and we want to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped us search for Paddy. We're so grateful and happy to have him back."