SOS for sad Scampi

They were befriended by a black mongrel, blind in one eye and with badly matted fur, while at their hotel and have now launched a lightning fund-raising campaign in a bid to have the dog, which they named Scampi, brought back to Britain.

Catherine, a psychiatric nurse, said: “It broke our hearts to leave her, because she was clearly desperate for food and just some tender, loving care. We bathed her and did what we could for her, but after following her we found her sleeping rough on some derelict land nearby.”

Anita, a delivery driver, said: “I had tears streaming down my face when we flew home and had to leave her behind. We need to raise some three to four thousand pounds to go through the quarantine process and bring her here to Bexhill.

“We’re just hoping people will be as touched as we were by Scampi’s plight and do what they can to help us.”

Anita, of St David’s Avenue, Bexhill, and Catherine, from the town’s Beacon Hill, say there is added urgency to their quest because the hotel at which they stayed is due to close on October 17 and without guests to beg from they fear Scampi is likely to starve to death.

The friends hope would-be donors will contact them care of Catherine at her home address - 24 Beacon Hill, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 5DF.