Eddie, a 15-year-old bearded collie-poodle cross breed, was rescued by a team of workmen at Ossett Lane, Earlsheaton, near Dewsbury, after spending Wednesday night trapped in the five foot-deep dike.

It came after the poorly pooch – who recently suffered a stroke – wandered off on his own after leaving his home at Pildacre Lane, Ossett, a couple of miles away.

Owner Dianne Slater said: “We looked all over for him, we scoured the streets and couldn’t find him anywhere.

“We couldn’t sleep that night and didn’t think we’d see him again. We thought he’d collapsed somewhere.”

Eddie and his family were re-united yesterday morning after a call came through from Ossett police station to say he was safe and well.

The workmen, who are employees of David Wilson Homes, found him covered in rubble after hearing his distressed barking.

Mrs Slater said: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw him, I just started crying. We’ve had him since he was three days-old.

“I used to bottle feed him.

“He used to be a bit of a Houdini, escaping all the time, but we thought those days were over and done with.”

Mrs Slater thanked rescuers James McCord, Andrew Rowson and Lee Bennett.