IT COULD ONLY HAPPEN ON MERSEYSIDE

Last updated : 20 March 2005 By Editor

From 'The Eckkkkho' (remove phlegm from face)

Liverpool supporters have been accused of stealing a dog from Tyneside following the recent 1-0 defeat at St. James' Park.

It is claimed that the group of Liverpool fans snatched the dog and drove it 200 miles back to Merseyside before beating it in a car-park outside a pub. The terrified springer spaniel, which has been nicknamed 'Shearer', was rescued by an animal lover who spotted the dog being kicked by a gang of youths.

Caroline Crabb, from Sutton Manor, St Helen's, said: "It was the day Liverpool had played Newcastle at St James' Park and I went into Runcorn with my friend.

"Just outside the pub was this springer spaniel. It kept on trying to go in but kept getting thrown out. I assumed its owner was in there. After a while, though, it all seemed a little strange so I went outside to try and see if I could find the owner.

"When I got out there I saw a group of lads kicking the poor thing in the car park so I shouted to them to stop and said I was from the RSPCA, which I'm not, and they all moved on.

"A girl said they had stolen it from a street in Newcastle when they had been up there for the match earlier that day."

Caroline is now trying to find the owners of the dog. Can you help? If you can please contact Gareth Deighan on 0191 2016182.