Volunteers are delivering posters around the Leverington and Wisbech area asking people not to leave food out for a timid stray dog in a bid to help rescuers catch him at the weekend.

It is hoped that once he is hungry enough the terrified animal can be enticed with food into a special large dog trap so he can then be taken to the vets for urgent vet treatment.

Thanks to an appeal on this newspaper’s website and on social media Ian Marshall of Manea volunteered to drive 80 miles to Rugby to pick up a borrowed large humane trap from a wolf dog rescue charity.

The trap is now in place and volunteers from two dog rescue charities - Shaman’s Legacy and Ravenswood Pet Rescue - are patiently waiting until the saluki is brave enough to come close.

Shelley Ridgeon of Ravenswood pet Rescue said: “We need people to stop feeding him so he gets hungry.”

Rescuers saw the dog last night but yet again he ran off and would not come anywhere close.

Posters are being delivered today to urge people to help by not leaving food out and volunteers plan to visit the area daily until their campaign is a success.