A family's labrador which did a New Year's Eve vanishing act, has turned up safe and well after spending over a week away from home in the wintry weather.

Smudge, a 14-year-old black labrador bitch, went missing from her home in Llanddewi Velfrey on December 31, but thanks to a media campaign by her family to find the pet, she was spotted and returned safe and well for a reunion with her family and pal, the spaniel Jenga.

"Thanks to the publicity, a kind person called in saying they thought they had seen Smudge and miraculously she was found alive after spending eight nights out in the rain and snow, etc," explained her owner Judy Lewis.

"She is very thin and a bit scared, but now recovering well in front of the fire.

"I would like to pass on our family's thanks to everyone for their efforts in helping to find Smudge and the Observer and all its readers, we cannot thank everyone enough for their help, without which, we may never have found her," added Judy.