MISCHIEVOUS puppy Ruby was very happy to be reunited with her owner after she disappeared during a walk.

As reported in last week’s Herts Advertiser, the young golden labrador sparked a major rescue operation by firefighters when she ran down a diagonal storm drain missing its cover while out on a walk in a field off House Lane in Sandridge with owner Sue Mountford.

A crew from St Albans fire station tried to locate Ruby using a thermal imaging camera without success but the puppy was handed into Cayton Veterinary Surgery safe and well around two hours later by a local woman who had found her wandering around.

A relieved Sue said: “We think Ruby followed something into the storm drain and then carried on to try and get out at the other end. Firefighters told me that the storm drain should have had a cover on it but that it was broken.

“It is hard to establish how far Ruby travelled but it must have been at least 500 metres as she was found near St Helier’s Road on the other side of Jersey Farm.”

Ruby was given the once over by the vets but emerged from her adventure unscathed.

Sue added: “She was absolutely fine, although a bit grubby when she was handed in. I would think that Ruby had a very exciting time and wasn’t worried at all.”