A rescue centre is trying to reunite a dog who went missing for five years with his owner.

Spirit of the Dog rescue centre in Essex put out the appeal after Marley, a seven-year-old terrier, was found after going missing from Watford in 2015.

He was recently spotted 54 miles away in Coulsdon when a diner eating at the Pizza Express in Coulsdon High Street saw Marley outside the restaurant.

He was taken to a vet, but despite best efforts they could not get in touch with his owner.

After spending seven days at a council pound, which also failed to get in touch with his owner, Marley was given to Spirit of the Dog rescue centre for rehoming.

Watford Observer:

The appeal put out by Spirit of the Dog

The rescue centre says it is putting in one "last big effort" to locate his owner.

Jenna Miller, a canine co-ordinator at the centre, said: "We can give him a new home but we want to try and find the original owner before we do that.

"We want to make Marley go viral and try to reunite him with the person he once called Dad."

If Marley's owner is not found by April 10, the rescue centre will try and find him a new family.

Mrs Miller said that even if Marley's owner has moved on she would still like them to get in touch.

She said: "If his owner is not found Marley will be looking for a new one who wants to do lots of trick training and agility with him, preferably an adult only home with no other pets.

"He is a sweet boy who loves his humans so much that he finds it hard to be left alone which means he needs somebody who wants to be with him all day."

Anyone who would like to adopt Marley can email jenna@spiritofthedog.org.uk for an application form.