More than 1,000 people have joined the search to find an adorable black labrador, who is now at risk of being exposed to the freezing elements as Storm Darcy hits south Essex.

Owner Danielle Fox is among the hundreds desperately trying to Blu, who went missing from her home in Church Road, Hockley, on Wednesday (February 3).

In a bid to help find the two-year-old, a group called Help Find Blu was set up - which now has 1,100 members.

And with the hopes of even spotting Blu, the team have used thermal imaging equipment and drain cameras, searching holes and unused badger setts to see if he may have potentially been there or got stuck.

Cameras near the woodland at the back of Blu's home have also been set up and helpers have leafletted all houses near Folly Chase, Manor Road and Osborne Road that have ring door bells and CCTV to see if anyone has footage of the "gentle giant."

Blu went missing Wednesday night, after escaping from the family's back garden.

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Danielle, 36, said: "We let him out for a wee and something spooked him so he chased it. We've got building work at the moment and our property is enclosed, apart from a small area where we're having an extension.

"I think he got disorientated where he was out of his usual area, but he has been quite an escape artist before. That being said, he always ends up at our neighbours so we went straight there and they didn't have him. 

"We searched Wednesday but there was nothing and even drove round the areas we thought he could've got to in that time. 

"Someone got him on CCTV at Folly Chase at 10.10pm, and there were possible sightings of him in or near Grove Woods in Rayleigh. But these weren't definite.

"We've had him since he was eight weeks old, he'll be three in April. The children are devastated and so are we, he's part of our family and we just want him back so badly.

"It is worrying with the snow."

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Members have also arranged a meeting with land owners to get permission to search their land and have been looking through the dense undergrowth near where Blu has been suspectedly spotted.

Danielle added: "We just want to get as much publicity and attention to this as possible, there are so many dog nappers round at the moment.

"But the more the word is out there the less likely anyone will be able to do anything with him. And the more people looking for him, the better.

"Dogs can get anywhere in a short period of time and so it's difficult to know what area he'll even be in now.

"We're just so lucky we've had so much support. Due to Covid we can't organise a proper big search to comb the woods, but everyone has been looking on their daily walk or exercise.

"Even when I'm walking and tell someone excuse me I'm missing my dog, they already know it's Blu and say we're helping too."

Blu was wearing a blue collar at the time of his dissappearance.

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For more information and advice on what to do should you spot Blu, visit the Help Find Blu page.