Two dog-loving sisters have launched a fundraising campaign to bring home a pair of mistreated strays they rescued while on holiday in Turkey.

Florist Louise Walker, 32, of Earls Colne, was on holiday with sister Lizzie Rai, 36, of Colchester, in the coastal resort of Didim this summer when they came across the two pooches they dubbed Mr Bear and Lira.

Miss Walker said: “The government there basically takes them in, clips their ears, neuters them and throws them out on the street again.”

They have organised a sponsored six mile dog walk on Sunday, September 21, which leaves from the Co-Op in the High Street, Earls Colne at 10am and goes to Halstead and back.

The sisters are also promoting two fundraising gigs, one at The Bull, Halstead, on October 11 and one at the Waiting Room, Colchester, on November 1.

See this week's Gazette for the full story.