An inquisitive pooch who got stuck in a chimney flue while her owners were doing a spot of DIY was back to her old self today.
Lucy, an 18-year-old West Highland Terrier, sparked panic when she fell down the flue after owner Dave Wilson knocked out a bedroom chimney breast at the family's home at Raby Road, Fairfield.
He and partner Michelle Leonardi, 35, were busy fixing plasterboard to the ceiling and scraping walls in the room when the drama began on Sunday tea-time.
"She came running into the bedroom and next thing, she disappeared down the hole."
Within seconds, Lucy could be heard "moaning" from behind the chimney breast in the dining room.
Mr Wilson dashed downstairs and began frantic efforts to smash through the wall to get her out while Michelle rang the fire brigade.
During the commotion, their six-year-old son Aaron tried to help dad out by offering his plastic swords as battering tools.
Once the fire brigade arrived, Lucy was quickly recovered.
She was unrecognisable when she emerged. Instead of her usual white coat, she was covered in black soot from head to foot.
"She looked like a Scottie dog," said Mr Wilson.
After a quick trip to the vet and a once-over with doggy shampoo, the much-loved family pet, who is partially blind and deaf and suffers arthritis, was back to her old self.
Mr Wilson said: "Everyone in the road was out once the fire engine came. When we got her out, I took her outside to let everyone know she was all right.
"She gave us quite a scare."
It's not the first time little Lucy has had a narrow escape.
Just a few weeks ago, she ate an ornamental dried starfish and had to be rushed to the vet.
"We nearly lost her but she just seems to pull through anything," said Mr Wilson.
The family, who only moved into the house four weeks ago, can now add a hole in the dining room wall to their list of DIY jobs.
