MURPHY the Jack Russell lived up to his reputation as a troublesome terrier when his owners Tracy and Checo Lynch farmed him out to a dog sitter while they took a short holiday in Ireland.

The couple, of Minehead-based civil engineering company C.J Lynch and Sons, describe the six-year-old family pet as "a bit of a character" but were confident that their office manager Andrew Stevens was the man for the job.

But even they were surprised at the tale which greeted them on their return - involving a wedged dog, the fire brigade and a half demolished garden shed.

Murphy was out in the garden at the home of Andrew's girlfriend Heidi Munson's mother during his holiday break when his scent tracking instincts got the better of him.

And the chase came to an undignified end when the terrier became stuck between the shed and the garden wall.

"He was stuck solid and, even worse, he was upside down as somehow he had flipped himself over in his attempts to free himself," said Tracy.

With no apparent means of escape, local firefighters were called in and their only option was to cut away half the shed.

"The problem was, it wasn't even Andrew's shed," said Tracy.

"He was at rugby practice at the time so Murphy was at his girlfriend's mother's house in Minehead.

"I think they panicked and couldn't see how they could get Murphy out so called the fire brigade."

Tracy admitted that she could not stop laughing when Andrew told her what had happened.

"Murphy's a wonderful dog, a real character and he's got himself in all sorts of scrapes over the years - although this has to be one of the funniest," she said.

"There's never a dull moment living with him.

"This was the first time that Andrew had looked after him but, amazingly, he and his girlfriend are quite happy to have him again.

"We had a great holiday - but it has cost us the price of a new shed."

And despite Murphy's escapade, Andrew insisted: "He's a lovely dog, a great little chap and we'd certainly look after him again."

The troublesome terrier is pictured with Tracy Lynch and dogsitters Andrew Stevens and Heidi Munson.

Photo: Steve Guscott