Intrepid terrier Bud is reunited with owner Martin Carrick

Bud, a three-year-old Staffordshire bull terrier, scaled a 7ft fence at his home in Darlington early on Monday and headed for the town's railway station.

After mixing with passengers on the Edinburgh to London service, Bud disembarked 60 miles away at York.

He was reunited with owner Martin Carrick after station staff found the animal wandering around York station.

High fence

Mr Carrick, 42, a self-employed roofer of Milton Street, Darlington, said: "He's always been a bit mad, totally independent.

"We usually have him chained up at night because he's been known to get out and go wandering all over the town.

"But we forgot to put him on the chain on Sunday night and when I got up on Monday morning to go to work he'd gone.

"The only way he can get out is by jumping over our fence, whiich is about 7ft high, and then through a hole in our neighbour's fence."

To reach the town's railway station, which is about three quarters of a mile away, Bud then had to cross a park, a busy road and a footbridge.

"From what we can make out he was at the station when a train pulled in and he jumped on as people were getting off," said Mr Carrick.

I have never heard of a dog deciding to travel by train Dog warden Helen Curry

Bud had boarded the 0555 GMT GNER Edinburgh to London service.

"The odds on him getting from our house to the station just as a train arrived must be pretty slim," Mr Carrick added.

"When the train stopped again at York he got off with the other passengers and went for a wander."

Bud was found walking around the station concourse by station staff, who alerted the dog warden department of York City Council.

Animal health officer Helen Curry, who was despatched to round him up, said: "He wasn't at all distressed and actually seems to have enjoyed his day out.

"We deal with all sorts of things, but this is a unique one.

"I have never heard of a dog deciding to travel by train."

Mr Carrick, who had reported Bud's disappearance to police in Darlington, was astonished when they phoned him to tell him what had happened.

"I had to go down to York to pick him up.

"I'm just glad he decided to get off at York instead of staying on all the way to London."