An adorable Labrador has finally been found after more than 1,000 people joined a search to find him... but is battling injuries after roaming free for two weeks.

Blu the black lab went missing after escaping from his owner’s garden on Church Road, Hockley, earlier this month.

Danielle Fox and her family were joined by more than 1,000 members of the community in looking for their four-legged friend.

The hopes of Blu returning home were dwindling with every day that passed but, 14 days after he was last seen, the lovable dog was discovered by two residents on Rayleigh’s Bird Estate.

But Blu is yet to be reunited with his family after suffering a broken leg and other injuries, needing treatment before he returns home.

Danielle said: “A lovely couple found him on their drive.

“He was just sitting on their driveway and they called us because he still had his collar and tag on.

“They hadn’t originally been aware that he had gone missing because, although we posted it on Facebook, they aren’t on social media.

“It was incredible when they called and asked whether we had lost our dog because it had been so long since he had gone missing.

“I was left in shock and relief after hearing the news. The couple that found Blu are amazing and I’m so thankful to them.

“They couldn’t believe it when we told them he had been missing for two weeks.

“We love Blu so much and we’re still in complete shock that he has been found after 14 days.”

Blu has remained at the vets for treatment to his broken leg, while another of his legs is also being assessed.

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Danielle, 36, added: “The people who found him were so kind and took him straight to the vet, where we met them.

“He has lost 12 kilos, which is roughly half of his body weight.

“Blu has a broken leg and quite a lot of damage has been sustained to another of his legs.

“It’s a case of seeing if he can build his strength up again and hopefully he will be out of the wars soon.”

In a bid to help find the two-year-old Labrador, a group called Help Find Blu was set up online.

More than 1,100 members showed their support, while thermal imaging equipment and drain cameras were also used as the search for Blu intensified.

Danielle is thankful for the help the community gave as they searched for their “gentle giant”.

She admitted: “We are forever grateful to everyone who helped us in trying to look for Blu.

“We were blown away by the amount of people who were willing to go out of their way to help us.

"It’s amazing that he has been found and hopefully he is on the road back to recovery. We cannot wait for him to be able to return home.”