RUNAWAY trainee guide dog Toffee was last night reunited with his owner – after finding his own way home.

Ian Francis, who is partially sighted and registered as blind, appealed for help to find Toffee after the guide dog ran off on Monday night from the Marks & Spencer at Oxford Station.

His heartfelt plea was picked up on social media and retweeted and shared tens of thousands of times – including by celebrities Graham Norton and Paul O’Grady.

But this afternoon, as he returned home from another search for his stray three-year-old pooch, Mr Francis found Toffee waiting for him under his hedge at home in Gibbs Crescent.

The delighted 46-year-old said: "It was a big relief.

"At first Toffee wouldn't come out but I left him a plate of food and left the front door open.

"Ten minutes later he came in and sat in his bed.

"He's back to his old self and he won't leave my side."

Mr Francis said he was overwhelmed by the number of people publicising the search for his dog on Twitter.

The public appeal for information on the Labrador’s whereabouts has gained 75,000 retweets.

Mr Francis, who is partially sighted but registered blind, said: “To be honest I have been astounded, especially with the interest shown from Paul O’Grady and Graham Norton.

“Just having their names helps publicise it.”