Dogged devotion

After becoming separated from his owners, Liz and David Cooper, while enjoying a leisurely walk through the Dearne Valley Park, this extraordinary canine character safely made his own way home in a

winding journey that saw him cover up to 15 miles.

In doing so, Jack, a former stray adopted by the Coopers five years ago, crossed four busy roads – and the M1– before falling asleep on the doorstep of the couple's Penistone home, unable to summon the energy to raise a bark.

The couple have no idea whether their pet was guided by a sense of smell, fate – or dogged devotion. They are just stunned by the tale's happy ending.

It's an uplifting story that shows that a dog really is man's best friend because of its loyalty, even if it means Jack is kept firmly on a lead when he is next taken for a walk.