Firefighters burrowed down a rabbit hole to rescue a dog trapped for 24 hours.

Jack Russell Milly disappeared after going rabbiting in woodland near her home in Guy Street, Pulborough.

Her worried owners called the RSPCA.

Suspecting the pooch may have become trapped in the maze of rabbit warrens nearby, RSPCA officers called in the fire brigade to help with the search.

Sub Officer Martin McKilligin said: "We went crawling around, trying to listen for any noises down the holes.

"After about 20 minutes we heard some whimpering.

"Then the crew started digging around the hole where we thought she was.

"When we had dug down a certain depth, one of the firefighters, Mike Dunham, climbed into the hole and began digging with his hands.

"He made slight visual contact with Milly and managed to get hold of her by the scruff of her neck and pull her free."

The rescue took place in October last year and led to an RSPCA commendation for RSPCA animal collection officer Steve Wickham and Inspector Tony Pritchard and the officers at Storrington.

They received their awards from Frances Lindsay-Hills, chairman of the RSPCA Mid Sussex and Brighton branch, at a presentation at Storrington fire station on Monday.

She said: "The RSPCA recognises the close working relationship with the fire brigade. Without their help many of these rescues could not take place."