Christmas came early for a dog owner in Little Downham on Christmas Eve after a fire crew from Littleport rescued her two terriers that had been missing for hours, stuck down a hole in undergrowth.

The frantic owner had been searching for them since they disappeared during their early afternoon walk.

They were heard around 7pm down a hole but the owner was unable to get them out.

A fire service spokesman said: “A crew from Littleport came to the rescue and after some careful digging retrieved the dogs, much to the relief of their owner.”

The spokesman added: “We love a Christmas Eve happy ending!”