COCO the Raccoon dog is home for Christmas.

The rare dog vanished last weekend but was traced after an appeal in the Examiner.

Owner Elaine Pearson, of Sycamore Avenue, Golcar, said: “After seeing your story a lady rang me to say she had seen Coco in the Parkwood area at the bottom of Dodlee.

“We went straight away and walked around calling her, and spotted her in a industrial compound. We managed to locate her and she recognised us and allowed herself to be caught.

“Apart from being wet, smelly and covered in mud she seemed unharmed.”

Raccoon dogs, which originate in China, grow thick grey fur and often hibernate in the winters.