A JACK Russell which was stuck in a rabbit warren for three days has become a local celebrity after a community rallied to his rescue.

Mischievous Max was trapped during a riverside walk in Kirkby Lonsdale.

His worried owners – who had been visiting from Lytham – kept a warren-side vigil before heading home.

They returned every day to resume the search, until word spread and the town helped launch a major rescue mission.

Posters went up in shop windows, dog-owners went to the scene and a passing pensioner even went headfirst down the hole after the stray hound.

When sausages from a nearby burger van failed to tempt him out, it was down to a team of 12 firefighters using specialist equipment to save the day.

Relieved owner Garry Knowles said: “Words cannot express how grateful I am to everyone who helped.

"We never realised quite how special the people are here.”