A WILTSHIRE family have made a desperate appeal for sightings of their Border Terrier who has been missing for five days since disappearing into a badger sett.

Six-year-old Bumble disappeared down the ‘very large’ sett at Rowde while her owner Annie Davidson was walking with her 18-month-old son last Thursday.

“It all happened in a ten-second window,” said Mrs Davidson, from Rowde. “My son darted off and I went after him and Bumble disappeared into the badger sett.

“Everyone is very upset. She’s micro-chipped and very friendly and is dearly missed by all her family, especially her three human brothers and sister.”

Mrs Davidson, who has two older children, aged five and three, was out walking with her youngest son at around 10am when Bumble went missing.

“She has never, ever done anything like this before. She does not run off ever.

“Everyone is doing their best to get her back. We’ve had people out day and night looking for her. There has been someone at the site for most of the time.

“We’ve put scented things near the badger sett and have put cameras down all the entrances and exits.

“The problem is it’s a very large sett about 30 metres long and about ten metres wide and has a number of entrances and exits.”

Mrs Davidson says they don’t want to start digging up the sett without permission from the local authorities.

Under the 1992 Protection of Badgers Act, badgers and their setts are legally protected from intentional cruelty and from the results of lawful human activities.

Anyone disturbing the sett or harming the badgers could be liable for an unlimited fine and could be sent to prison for up to six months if found guilty of any of these offences.

If anyone sees Bumble, they should contact the family on 07776 024930.