A DOG who became trapped down a rabbit hole is to have  his ordeal and rescue recreated for television.

Cookie the Patterdale Terrier was on an early morning walk with owner Kay Barnes near Winnie Hill, off Ellesmere Road, Shrewsbury, when she disappeared down a labyrinth of holes.

Firefighters at Shrewsbury and Wellington with colleagues from Market Drayton used shovels and listening equipment designed  to rescue people trapped in collapsed buildings to free the three-year-old.

They have since made the final five in the Dog's Best Friend category at the National Dogs Trust Honours 2011.

The awards ceremony, in its fourth year, celebrates the relationship between man and dog.

The public put forward a record number of nominations which were judged by a celebrity panel including Graham Norton, Clare Balding and Nicky Campbell.

The rescue has now been recreated by BBC Real Rescues and will be screened this summer.

John Das Gupta, area manager at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Ten of our firefighters spent more than three hours of backbreaking work digging out Cookie.

“She had been stuck underground for more than three hours when the team arrived on site."

A Dogs Trust spokesman added:

“I know it was a very close call and there's no denying that their actions were truly heroic.

“They certainly are dogs' best friends in our eyes.”