After being stranded on a railway line for nearly three weeks, a Staffordshire bull terrier has been reunited with his owner, writes Sean Morrison.

Three-year-old Falcore went missing on November 3 and was spotted several times beside train tracks between Sutton Common and Wimbledon Chase.

November 20: Find Falcore - owner says staffie has been trapped near train tracks at Sutton Common station for 18 days

Without anyone to look after him he became so thin his ribs showed through his fur. A campaign, Find Falcore, was launched to help retrieve him.

But now, after finding his way out of his predicament, he is safely home with owner Jade Pitt, 21.

Ms Pitt said: "As soon as he saw us he jumped up into my partner's arms.

"I am so happy to have him back, and I feel lucky to have got him after he was trapped out in the cold for such a long time."

Ms Pitt rushed to Lower Morden garden centre in a taxi with her partner David Howard, 22, to collect Falcore after he turned up.

Ms Pitt, of Chaucer Gardens, Sutton, took him to Parkside Veterinary Centre, Carshalton, straight away, where she was told the pup had lost more than half his body weight while stranded.

British Transport Police and Network Rail were alerted to two sightings of Falcore but in both instances were unable to find him.

Ms Pitt said her pet is on his way back to full health, and that she will spoil him for Christmas.