A PLAYFUL cocker spaniel got herself into a “hole” lot of bother when she chased a rabbit and became trapped down a foxhole.The dog, believed to be called Maisie, spied the rabbit in a field behind the Burgh Lane Leisure Complex but became trapped over a metre down the hole, sparking a four-and-a-half hour rescue effort involving firefighters, caravan owners and a neighbouring farmer.

A PLAYFUL cocker spaniel got herself into a “hole” lot of bother when she chased a rabbit and became trapped down a foxhole.

The dog, believed to be called Maisie, spied the rabbit in a field behind the Burgh Lane Leisure Complex but became trapped over a metre down the hole, sparking a four-and-a-half hour rescue effort involving firefighters, caravan owners and a neighbouring farmer.

Ernie Ward, a helper at Burgh Hall, said people in caravans near the foxhole in a hedge between a field at Burgh Hall and neighbouring farmland were alerted after hearing the dog's cries shortly before 7pm yesterday.

They called the fire service who cut away undergrowth with the help of the farmer's digger to get to the stranded dog, which had recently given birth.

The pet is understood to belong to Percy Thrower, who owns a caravan on the Burgh Hall site.

Holidaymaker David Reed, from Enfield, is staying at the site and first knew of the incident when a boy approached him and asked if he had a spade to dig out the dog.

He said: “We could hear the dog making muffled whimpering noises. I could not hear it at one point and obviously thought the worse may have happened.”

He added the dog was a bit distressed, but ok when it was rescued.

Fire service spokesman Martin Barsby said fire crews from Gorleston were called to help out with the rescue.