A postman has been praised for his community spirit for returning to his round after his shift had ended to find a missing dog.

Ian Palmer, 29, was delivering post in Tye Green last Friday afternoon when he spotted anxious Braintree Road resident Sally Hayes-Smith.

Sally had been flagging down passing cars for help after her 11-month-old Yorkshire terrier Annie escaped from home.

After completing his shift, Braintree-based postman Ian searched nearby fields for Annie until she was eventually found and safely returned four hours later.