FLUSH PUPPY; Daniel, 4, puts dog down loo..and it survives.

Byline: MARTIN FRICKER

WHEN little Daniel Blair decided his pup Dyno was dirty, the loo seemed the perfect place to wash him.

But it did not go to plan and the week-old cocker spaniel was flushed away and trapped in a waste pipe for almost four hours.

Horrified mum Alison, 40, feared the worst when she realised what four-year-old Daniel had done.

But she decided to check the drain outside - and heard the dog whimpering.

She immediately rang 999, but firefighters were unable to reach him.

and him. In desperation she finally called plumbing specialists Dyno-Rod, who used a special camera to locate the terrified pup - lying upside down in a pipe 20 yards away under a neighbour's house.

They then gently nudged him towards the nearest manhole cover and he was plucked to safety.

Relieved Alison said last night: "I never thought a dog could survive being flushed down the loo. He's a real little fighter."

The amazing drama began when Daniel's twin brother Nicky took the pup for a walk in the garden.

Mum-of-seven Alison said: "About an hour later I realised the dog was missing and asked the boys where he was. Daniel told me it had got muddy so they put it in the toilet and pulled the chain to give it a wash. I ran into the bathroom but the dog was nowhere to be seen. I assumed it was dead.

"I went into the garden, managed to lift up the drain cover and was amazed to hear him crying."

Alison, of Northolt, Middlesex, called the fire brigade and RSPCA but neither could get him out. She said: "Then someone suggested Dyno-Rod and thankfully they had the right gear." Hero of the day was Dyno-Rod man Will Craig, 22, from Harrow, Middlesex. He said: "When I got the call I thought it was a wind-up.

"At first I didn't want to do it because I was scared of hurting the dog. But the RSPCA said I was its only hope. I pushed him really slowly and watched the poor thing wriggling around.

"Eventually I pushed him far enough for the firemen to grab. Suddenly everyone started cheering. We couldn't believe he was still alive."

After a night at the local vets, Dyno - named after his rescuers - was given a clean bill of health.

And little Daniel has apologised. He said: "Nicky got the puppy muddy and I had to give him a wash. I'm so, so sorry. I won't do it again."

But it was an honest mistake. He obviously mistook Dyno for a lav-rador.

CAPTION(S):

ESCAPE ROUTE Manhole cover BEATING THE CISTERN Pet recovers after ordeal YAPPY ENDING Dyno gets a hug from little Daniel Picture: IAN VOGLER YELP... I'M STUCK Pup trapped in pipe PAW THING Video captures the drama