A FAITHFUL border collie has been hailed a heroine after coming to the rescue of her owner, 86-year-old England and Altrincham footballer Tommy Banks, who had been stuck in a bog for more than five hours.

The RSPCA gave 10-year-old Susie a special recognition award last week after being moved by the way she alerted the emergency services to her striken owner.

Tommy, a former club captain at Altrincham FC, slipped and fell into wet bog-land in Blackleach Country Park in Walkden on a freezing day in February.

A search party was sent to look for him after he had not returned from his walk. With it getting dark, concerns ran high – until a police officer heard Susie’s bark. He shone his torch at the spot he heard the noise, and found the dog sitting faithfully by her stranded owner.

Deputy chief inspector Melissa Furey said: “It was an absolute pleasure to present Susie with her certificate for her being loyal to her owner. She is such a sweet-natured dog who shows that a dog really can be man’s best friend.”

Tommy, who played in every game for England in the 1958 FIFA World Cup, said: "Susie is so worthy of this award as goodness knows what could have happened if she hadn’t been there. She stayed with me all the time I was down there, then used her bark to guide rescuers to me.

“Some might say she is like Lassie - but to me she is simply my best friend."