A HEARTBROKEN family is appealing for help retrieving its beloved dog’s ashes after it was chased into a road and hit by a car.

Calvin Gardner, from Cirencester, was walking her eight-year-old Frankie in City Bank, near the Beeches, Cirencester, last night when they were set upon by a chocolate Labrador.

Frankie slipped her collar in a panic and bolted for home, swiftly followed by the Labrador.

As Frankie reached the bridge on Beeches Road she was struck by a car.

The death of the Japanese Shiba Inu has “torn the family apart”, Calvin's partner Emma said.

Now the pair, who have a three-month-old son, are appealing for information about the Labrador.

Emma is also asking anyone who can help to donate money so she can retrieve Frankie’s ashes, as she is struggling to afford it as a new mother on maternity leave.

On her JustGiving page, entitled ‘Bring Frankie home’, she said: “Our hearts are broken. She needs to come home where she felt safe. My family has been torn apart and the thought of never having her with me again is too much to handle.

“I love you my sweet baby girl.”

To donate go to crowdfunding.justgiving.com/BringFrankiehome