PET owner Daphne Du Pre wants to trace the mystery walker who pulled her dog Tina from the Stroudwater Canal after the nine-year-old chocolate Labrador got out of her depth.

Miss Du Pre, 67, was walking Tina along the canal banks under the Horsetrough Roundabout at 10.45am on Monday, November 7 when the dog mistook duckweed on the edge of the water for grass and plunged into the 2ft-deep water.

"I couldn't believe she'd actually gone in because she hates swimming," said Miss Du Pre, from West End, Eastington.

"I felt absolutely awful but she was too heavy for me to pull out."

Tina couldn't get out of the water because the stone sides of the canal prevented her climbing onto the bank.

Fortunately Miss Du Pre spotted a passer-by and appealed to him for help.

Between them, they managed to pull Tina out of the water.

"I was very relieved and I thanked him profusely," said Miss Du Pre.

"I am sure that without his help Tina would have drowned."

*Do you know who the heroic walker is? Call the SNJ newsdesk on 01453 769427.