Lucky greyhound Floyd is recovering after his second scrape with death on the Downs.

The four-year-old was hit by galloping racehorses on Telscombe Tye.

Nearly two years ago he was found bleeding and whimpering at the same beauty spot.

The award-winning dog is regaining his fitness with the love and care of owners Renie and John Richardson after his second brush with death earlier this month.

Floyd was found by the Richardsons, of Bevendean Avenue, Saltdean, when they were exercising their greyhound, Cliff, two years ago.

Cliff was lonely after his partner, Diamond, was put down because of cancer.

Diamond, who raced under the name of Regal's Diamond, was the granddaughter of greyhoundracing legend Ballyreagan Bob.

Renie said: "We saw what we thought was a dead calf lying in a field. We checked and saw a young greyhound covered in blood and exhausted after getting entangled in razor wire.

"He had been on the top of the tye for days. He was muddy and very thin. He just managed to struggle up when we approached him.

"If he had been left any longer he would have died."

The Richardsons took him to the vet and he recovered at the National Canine Defence League in Shoreham, which covered the initial costs of his care. When he had recovered the couple became his registered owners.

Two months later Mrs Richardson was approached on the tye by a man with greyhounds who said Floyd was in fact Fly and belonged to him.

He said he was one of his best chasers but the couple could keep him because he had been neutered.

Mrs Richardson said on another occasion she was offered £800 for Floyd by people who recognised his potential and wanted him for hare coursing.

At a greyhound and lurcher show at Pyecombe last summer, Floyd won dog in best condition, best rescue dog and best matching brace with Cliff.

Then a few weeks ago Floyd almost lost his life again on the tye when hit by the racehorses in the chest, rib cage and stomach.

Mrs Richardson said: "I thought he was going to be killed but once again he survived."

A Lewes horse trainer has admitted responsibility for the accident and is paying the vet bills.

The accident reopened the debate on fencing the tye, which would prevent it from being used for racehorse training.