A FAMILY have spoken of their devastation after recovering their 17-month-old French Bulldog from the River Tyne after he jumped into the river.

A wide-scale public appeal was carried out throughout the Tyne Valley, and on social media, after Marley disappeared in Hexham last Friday.

However, after a week of searching the river and the surrounding area, owners Paul Sanderson and Michaella Gallon had not found the dog.

Missing posters were plastered on trees at Tyne Green Country Park as the couple appealed for any information from the public.

"I was just about to go out and put some flyers in my local pet store on Friday when my phone rang," Paul said.

"A man from Hexham said he had seen the posters and had found Marley.

"Where he was found was not even half a mile down river from where he fell off and into the water. He was up against a tree."

Paul had contemplated jumping into the river to rescue Marley last week, but a strong current and a 15 foot wall posed great danger.

The Gateshead couple received help from family, friendly and members of the Tynedale community in their long search for Marley.

Paul explained: "Earlier in the week we had a very close friend go up and down the river on a kayak looking in bushes, but couldn't find him.

"We were meant to have a big search party today (Saturday), but we have called it off."

The couple took Marley to a pet crematorium and plan to keep his ashes with them at home.

"We have got that closure now, it's not the closure we wanted, but it means we can grieve properly," Paul added.

"Everyone that we know had lit a candle for Marley at 9pm last night.

"We cannot thank everybody enough. The response was overwhelming and 90 per cent of the people we didn't even know."