A dog owner has thanked firefighters for saving Dave, his Golden Labrador, after it went missing. He said they had saved his “best friend”.

Cambs Times: Dog rescue at Ten Mile Bank: Pictures Tim EdwardsThe two chaps on the raft are: Kevin Peat (behind) and Karl Hain (front).Dog rescue at Ten Mile Bank: Pictures Tim EdwardsThe two chaps on the raft are: Kevin Peat (behind) and Karl Hain (front). (Image: Archant)

Dave was with owner, Dale Osler when it ran off. It was rescued two-and-a-half miles away, stuck in a river, about three hours after it went missing.

Firefighters were called to Ten Mile Bank, near Downham Market, at about 3.30pm on Monday.

Dave’s owner Dale Osler, a farm worker, said: “I’m proper chuffed he’s back. I’ve had him for 11-and-a-half years since he was a puppy.

“This time I thought he was gone for good. I thought someone may have picked him up and taken him away, as he’s such a friendly dog.”

Mr Osler, 37, was with the farm dog working at Sedge Farm, near Southery, when he went missing.

He said: “He was with me and then I looked up and he was gone.

“I started riding around looking for him, but could not find him.

“A young lad spotted him in a river and called the fire brigade, which sent out a rescue boat.

“Going 2.5miles is nothing for Dave. Before he went missing he had just walked from our home to where I was working.

“I’m very thankful to the fire brigade for saving him. They saved my best friend.”

Mr Osler is separated and lives in Sedge Fen Road with his children Darrancorr, 10, and Kaceycorr, seven.

Tim Edwards, group manager (western district), Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, said: “We got a call at about 3.30pm to reports that a dog was stuck in the river at Ten Mile Bank.

“I went with the water rescue team from Thetford. When we got there we learned that people at the house opposite had heard a dog in the river,

“It was stuck in a river, tangled up in reeds. It could not get out, and could have died.

“We used a raft to get to it and a couple of guys rescued the dog.

“It was cold and wet but very happy to be on dry ground and safe.

“There was a phone number on the dog tag. We phoned the owner.”