ANIMAL welfare officers are asking for help in locating a stray greyhound which has been on the loose since before Christmas.

The tan male has a white mark on his chest and is very nervous. He has been eluding animal welfare officers from Stockton Borough Council for the past two months in the town's Elm Tree area.

Last week, officers laid a large dog trap in a smallholding in Darlington Lane, but did not catch the dog.

On Wednesday, they moved the trap to an adjacent field, which backs on to the footpath between Bishopsgarth and Hardwick.

The trap was secured to a hedgerow by a metal chain and when officers revisited at 1.30pm, the trap was there.

However, when they checked the site at 3.45pm, it had been stolen.

Mark Berry, the council's principal environmental health officer, said: "We are appealing for help on two accounts - we would like to know if anyone is feeding the dog, has gained its confidence or has the dog visiting their garden.

"Also, if anyone saw anything suspicious in that area, or if they have been offered a large dog trap, we would ask them to contact Stockton police on (01642) 326326."

Anyone with information about the dog is asked to call (01642) 391126.