Rosie disappeared from Chris and Rosie Keeble's Suffolk home in 1997, but was returned two weeks ago when a vet found their names in the dog's identity chip.

During her years away, the lurcher was cared for by Derek Butcher of Essex.

He was so heartbroken at having to give her up, and Rosie was finding it hard to settle, that the Keebles decided to give Mr Butcher custody of the dog.

Mr Butcher, who found Rosie as a stray and took her into his home in Maldon, told BBC Essex it was good to have her home.

Scanned dog

And although Mr and Mrs Keeble have let Rosie go, they still plan to carry on seeing her.

When Rosie went missing seven years ago they put posters up in shop windows and followed up possible sightings.

Then two weeks ago, they received a phone call to say Rosie had been found.

Two children had taken her to a vet after finding her standing in the middle of a road.