A DISTRAUGHT soldier's son has lost the dog his dad bought to keep him company while he was away serving his country.

Sergeant Major Peter Crump, of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment, gave Ziggy to his family and his boy, Ellis.

But the three-year-old German wire-haired pointer and Airedale cross vanished while he was being walked in Tockholes wood on Sunday.

The unusual pet is mostly black but with a ginger beard' bleached by drinking water in the sun in hot Cyprus.

Sgt Maj Crump is now based in Preston but in recent years has been stationed in Cyprus and Germany, and Ziggy has always travelled with the family when they have moved together.

But now the family, of Mill Hill, Blackburn, including mum Simone, 33, and children Ellis, six, and baby Riley, ten weeks, are now frantic with worry since the dog went missing, and are appealing for help to find him.

Simone said: "We got him to keep my son company. He was so upset. My husband has always worked away and we have often stayed at home. My son was at that age when he knew he wasn't there. He was so upset so we got the dog.

"He is so friendly and we are bothered that because he is so friendly and such a bonny dog that someone has seem him and taken him home."

Ziggy is microchipped and has a collar. So far family and friends have all pitched in to help, searching for Ziggy and putting up posters in the area.

Simone said: "My husband is a Sergeant Major and is six foot three inches but even he is devastated.

"It's not knowing where he is we are struggling with that."

Anyone who can help should call the family on 07901 688339.