Jessie the missing Beagle is found and now recovering after ordeal near Chorley

Jessie the Beagle went missing on June 10 and five days later was reported to have been hit by a car on the M61 in the Bottany Bay area close to Chorley.

Devastated owner Kaylie Jenkinson, 32, from the Worden Park area of Leyland, was so desperate to find the five year old pet that she set up a Facebook group, HAVE YOUSEENJESSIE?

The campaign attracted massive support from across the country and well wishers even contacted the Facebook page from as far away as USA and Australia.

Jessie was finally found on Friday evening after mum-of-three Kaylie decided to organise yet another search of the woods near Bottany Bay where the pooch was last seen limping.

Despite several previous thorough searches of the wood, no trace of Jessie was seen, buy Kaylie was sure she was there - and at around 6.20pm, she was found in bushes in the woods, injured but happy to be reunited with her owner.

Kaylie said: "On Friday afternoon I just couldn't stand it anymore, I knew she was out there and needed our help.

"I got in touch with some of the people who have been helping and 50 of us met up at the woods at 6pm.

"Within just 20 minutes she was found and it turned out she was in the very place we had looked before, close to where she was last seen.

"She was found by one of the helpers but she was anxious and tried to make a bolt for it.

"Thankfully a family friend was right there and when Jessie smelt him she knew she was safe and rolled over to have her tummy rubbed!

"I ran around the bushes to reach her and I just felt pure disbelief and amazing joy.

"The whole family is just so relieved and overjoyed."

Jessie was excited to be found but she still had several injuries.

She had two breaks in one of her legs, deep lacerations to a paw and the balls of her pads were scuffed, and there was an injury above one eye.

Local vets CJ Mason referred Jessie to the Kentdale Veterinary Orthopaedic centre near Milnthorpe and Jessie is being treated there and due to be picked up by Kaylie tomorrow.

Kaylie says she has been astounded and delighted by the incredible support she has received from groups and individuals, not just in the Leyland and Chorley areas but across the land.

They include a group called Harvey's Army, Jason from Droneworks, Chorley Police, the Highways Agency and the huge number of local people, too many of them to mention.

She added: "Today feels like Christmas, we're getting the house prepared, ready for Jessie coming home."