Max the four-footed surfer is lost

One of Britain's biggest canine stars is missing. Max the surfing dog vanished from outside a supermarket in west Wales while his owner, Pete Bounds, was inside buying his pet's Christmas dinner, writes Richard Smith.

The four-year-old mongrel, who won the Pro Dog charity's Pet of the Year award, rose to fame last summer through his devotion to Mr Bounds, 47, Britain's former surfing team captain. Every time his owner went out surfing, Max whimpered on the beach. So Mr Bounds taught Max to surf with him - giving him his own wet suit and board.

But when Mr Bounds went into Haverfordwest to buy Max a steak on Christmas Eve the dog was tied to railings outside. "I was only in the supermarket for a couple of minutes but when I came back Max had gone," Mr Bounds said. He is convinced the dog was stolen. "I'm absolutely shattered ... I miss him terribly."

Mr Bounds has spent all Christmas searching for Max, and has put up 200 posters offering a pounds 100 reward for his safe return. Dyfed Powys police asked anyone with information about Max to contact Haverfordwest police station.