TERRIFIED Ben the border collie hitched a 110-mile ride to the North-East after jumping on to an articulated tanker during a thunderstorm.

He somehow managed to balance on an open platform behind the tanker cab for the whole of the three-hour journey from Dumfries in Scotland to Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The tanker, which was delivering PVC on behalf of Hydro Polymers, was returning to the company's Newton Aycliffe plant from the ferry terminal at Stranraer in Scotland on Tuesday evening.

But the driver was caught in the middle of a horrendous thunderstorm and decided to spend the night in a lay-by about three miles outside Dumfries.

He set off yesterday morning and when he arrived back at the plant he noticed something moving behind the cab.

"He had a look and discovered a rather scared looking border collie had hitch-hiked a ride on the back of the truck," said Chris Welton, the company's communications manager.

Hydro Polymers security staff got in touch with Dumfries police, who confirmed that a collie answering the hitch-hiking hound's description had been reported missing by its owner.

Mr Welton added: "Ben is a working farm sheepdog and is apparently terrified of thunderstorms.

"He had bolted from his farm during the evening and taken refuge behind the cab unit on the tanker, which was parked up close to his home."

Ben was badly shaken by the ordeal, but otherwise is fine. The stowaway is being cared for by Hydro Polymers' occupational health nurse, Sarah Armitage, before hitching a return trip to Scotland on Saturday - this time inside a car.