A SPRINGER cross that sparked a three-week hunt after he went missing has been found dead.

Fly, who was owned by Jane Moore, went missing on June 27 in Godshill woods. Mrs Moore searched for him, as did friends and people who saw his story.

But he was found last Wednesday night, not far from where he went missing.Mrs Moore said: “It would appear that he may have been there since he disappeared.

“We can only surmise that some catastrophe occurred to him and I only hope that he died instantly.

“At least we have closure and I now know that he wasn't wandering in the forest and he wasn't stolen. To imagine he was with people who didn't care about him, is too awful to contemplate.”