A DOG trapped for two days after falling into a hole in North Berwick has been reunited with his owner... thanks to a helping hand from a Scottish music legend.

Bay City Rollers guitarist Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood was to prove the hero after Kruger, a 10-year-old black Labrador, went missing on Sunday, November 24, at about 5pm.

Kruger was on his regular evening walk with owner Janette Murray, 79, of North Berwick’s Rhodes Park, next to the former East Lothian Council depot at Lime Grove.

But after going to investigate a scent, he did not return when called.

Janette’s daughter, 43-year-old Donna Denton, of the town’s Couper Avenue, told the Courier: “He is a rehomed dog, my mum got him when he was three.

“He is quite timid but very, very friendly and doesn’t growl or bark at people – I have two kids and he’s great with them.

“If he does wander off he comes back as soon as he can’t see you, he always stays very close.

“We now know the reason he didn’t come back this time. The lady from search and rescue said dogs don’t bark for help, only when they feel threatened.”

Kruger was found two days later by Bay City Rollers star Wood at about 9.30am on Tuesday – the musician, who was on holiday in North Berwick, was one of 25 looking for the missing dog.

He later posted on Facebook to say “thanks for the lovely messages” and praising everyone who “searched relentlessly”.

“Well done everyone – we got lucky!” he added.

The terrified dog was eventually found just metres from where he went missing.

People all over North Berwick had helped in the search, not realising that Kruger was so close by.

One man checked every bunker on the 18 holes at nearby Glen Golf Club –counting 37 in total.

Kruger gained access to the derelict Lime Grove site through a broken fence.

Donna, a childminder and registered nurse, said: “The hole he fell down was no bigger than 60 centimetres by 60 centimetres, he couldn’t even lie down in it and was sitting up the whole time he was down there. We couldn’t even get our feet in there to help lift him out.

“We phoned the fire brigade as we didn’t know what to do but my husband ended up putting a hoist around him and, with another man’s help, lifting Kruger out with brute force.”

And she added: “The area he was found in is such a state and an absolute junkyard – there’s broken bins and slabs everywhere, graffiti etc. It is not safe and is not secure.”

During the search, Donna contacted the police, SSPCA, search and rescue, the council and Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, though she said she “couldn’t get through to the dog warden” at the council.

After being rescued and wrapped up in blankets, Kruger was then sent to the vets for a check-up.

Donna added: “A man from the council had keys to the gate at the site and let me reverse my car in so I could put Kruger in the back.

“[Kruger] was really stiff, so we had to carry him into the car and into the vets.

“He was put on some fluids but my mum was able to get him home later that night; luckily he wasn’t hurt.”

An appeal to find Kruger posted on social media attracted plenty of attention, something Donna was not expecting.

She was full of praise for everyone who helped out, saying: “Everyone was amazing. I had people I didn’t know come up to me at the school gates saying they were going to look for Kruger. We were just so lucky it was two mild nights when he was down there.

“My mum will be 80 next year but was out all day trying to look for him, she didn’t want to stop or turn back. She was determined to find him.”

Since the incident, the hole has been covered with a slab, but the fence still remains damaged.

A spokesperson for East Lothian Council said: “If anyone is aware of an uncovered manhole then it’s recommended that they report the exact location to the council, who will investigate further to make it safe.

“This can be done online or via our out of hours number: 01875 612818.”