A HOLIDAYMAKER from Kent who became attached to a stray dog in Greece has launched a bid to save him from being killed by bringing him back to England.

Sally Skinner, from Maidstone, is trying to raise £2,500 to rescue the dog before he is poisoned along with other strays on the Greek island of Kos at the end of the tourist season.

She has even set up a bank account in the dog's name to encourage people can to donations to his rescue fund.

Mrs Skinner, 41, of Claygate, Shepway, Maidstone, fell in love with the dog, nicknamed Scruffie, on the first day of her two-week holiday.

"As soon as we arrived there was a little dog there", she said. "He just attached himself to me for the whole fortnight. People think I'm mad. Everyone else goes on holiday and has a romance, but I fell in love with a dog. I miss him so much."

The dog, which was undernourished and unkemped before Mrs Skinner and her friend Carole Flicher, adopted him, followed them everywhere they went. "If I went to the bar, he went to the bar, if I went for a swim, he followed me", said Mrs Skinner.

"He even slept in our hotel room. The only place he didn't go was to the restaurant, where he sat outside on the step waiting for me."

Before leaving, Mrs Skinner bought a collar and lead for Scruffy so he would look more like a domesticated animal. The holiday reps at the hotel are also feeding Scruffie and giving Mrs Skinner updates on his well-being over the phone.

Stray animals are a problem on Kos and are controlled by poison once the tourist season ends in October.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Save Scruffie Fund can contact Mrs Skinner on 01622 682713.