An adorable puppy from Oxfordshire has been rescued from a bramble-covered ditch five days after she vanished.

Six-month-old cocker spaniel Bow got lost during a walk with her owner Jodie Dance, who is from Banbury.

She had taken Bow and her sister Bella for a walk in the countryside when they both ran away.

Jodie hunted for the dog for hours on Monday, February 19, but was forced to abandon the search when it got dark.

“They are only pups but they love running so I took them to Burton Dassett and let them off the lead,” she said.

"They were having a fabulous time on the hills but then both disappeared from view and then only Bella came back.”

The 37-year-old put an appeal on Facebook the next day for people to look out for Bow near where she went missing in Burton Dassett Country Park in south Warwickshire near Banbury.

Five days later a jogger overheard barking coming from a bramble-filled railway embankment about a mile away from the park and raised the alarm.

Oxford Mail: Jodie and Bow reunited.Jodie and Bow reunited. (Image: SWNS)

Drone operator John Watton was called in and used thermal imaging cameras to spot Bow trapped inside the thicket.

The 50-year-old, from Drone SAR (search and rescue) For Lost Dogs UK, said: “The thermal drone is really good for areas that are really hard to search in.

“A jogger heard barking but couldn’t see the dog so we were called in and I took the drone over to his location.

“Within a few minutes I picked up a heat signature.

“It was literally about 6ft in brambles so all I got was a heat signature of a sort of spaniel, fox-type size.

Oxford Mail: The area where Bow was found.The area where Bow was found. (Image: SWNS)

“One I picked that up the team went into this area, secured any exits and then they went in and grabbed Bow.”

Footage from Sunday's rescue shows Jodie and her friends hacking down the thick brambles with hedge trimmers before hauling Bow to safety.

John added: “It’s probably about a mile from where she went missing from.

“Just the reaction from the owner was unbelievable. She was completely in tears.

Oxford Mail: Bow being rescued from the ditch.Bow being rescued from the ditch. (Image: SWNS)

“To be honest I was nearly blubbering.”

Relieved owner Jodie was thankful for the help in reuniting her with the adorable puppy.

"I had no idea where Bow was but had to stop looking when it went dark so I contacted Drone SAR who were just brilliant,” she said.

"Despite Bow being out in the cold for five days she's made a full recovery. It's a miracle she was found and it wouldn't have happened without the thermal drone."