Diners at Colchester’s iconic Playhouse pub got more than just cheap pints when a stray dog wandered into the venue and curled up on the flamboyant carpet.

It was reported by onlookers the dog was running around in the street out front of the pub, eventually causing a car to swerve, narrowly missing the dog.

Frightened and disoriented, the dog ran into Wetherspoons, St John’s Street, sneaking in behind a couple walking through the door.

Ayra Anderson, the staff member who found the dog, said she had no collar or nametag.

Staff affectionately named the dog JD - after JD Wetherspoon, the pubs proprietor.

JD was allowed to get a round of drinks and a bite to eat as staff provided her with some water and chicken, from one of the bowls with the 'Spoons synonymous design.

After finishing her meal, JD collapsed on the rug, so tired that she was carried up to the break room by staff.

The docile and affectionate pooch relaxed in the break room for two hours.

Gazette:

JD was so popular several staff members and customers offered to take her home.

A Wetherspoons staff member also reported that they had received an outpour of calls, both last night and this morning from members of the public offering a home to JD.

She was then taken to a vet where an inspection found JD had a foreign microchip, to which they would have no access to.

The vet said they had received several calls from concerned members of the public.

They added: “She [JD] was taken in last night by an out of hours emergency service. She was gone by 8am this morning, by the time we had arrived. She was taken by the dog warden first thing this morning.”

JD will remain with the dog warden for seven days, before being moved on to a rehoming charity.