A SNACK of a pair of ladies' tights meant a trip to the vet for Fergus the German wire-haired pointer.

The three-year-old found the tights in Warren Slade woods in Bulwark and brought them back to owner Mr Tim Abbot.

But before Mr Abbot could get them, Fergus had swallowed them – meaning a trip to Severnside vets in Tidenham.

Veterinary surgeons Edward De Beukaleer and Lisa Baker X-rayed the pet under anaesthetic.

They then passed a video endoscope – a tiny camera on a cable – into Fergus's stomach where they saw part of the tights.

The rest of the tights were in the small intestine and with the help of the camera and a pair of forceps they were able to pull the tights back out through his mouth.

He was able to return home to Alexandra Road, Bulwark, the same day.

Mr De Beukaleer said: "Fergus had been extremely fortunate – once tights enter the intestines they usually need major surgery to be removed and sometimes cause enough damage for sections of the intestine to be removed."

Mr Abbot praised the skill of the vets but said litter in the woods was a potential danger to animals.

He said: "Fergus picked up the tights and swallowed them before I could get them off him.

"There are also golf balls and other litter in the woods which are potentially very dangerous for animals.

"We took Fergus to the vet and they were excellent. We were very relieved that it did not require surgery."

Mr Abbot said it was not the first time that Fergus has had a taste for tights.

He said: "He got hold of pair (at home) but fortunately we were able to get them before he swallowed them."