THIS is the heart-warming moment a care home resident in Sandiway was reunited with her dog - after he found a new owner just five minutes away.

Diana Darlington, 82, who is a resident at Redwalls Nursing Home, was given Jak as a birthday present from her late husband, Roy, 10 years ago.

But when he died, she made the difficult decision to move from Kent back to Cheshire, to be closer to most of her family.

It meant leaving behind the Bichon-Lakeland terrier mix with a relative more than 200 miles away.

But Sarah Roberts, from Hartford, heard about the home's plea to find somewhere closer for Jak and decided to take him in, meaning Diana can now see him every few days.

Northwich Guardian:

Diana, a retired hotel owner, said: "I couldn't believe it. It's a miracle. Jak leapt up at me from the door and jumped on me and we had cuddles and kisses.

''It's just like old times."

Regional activities co-ordinator Jodie Solaiman, 26, and relatives had seen how distraught Diana was at being so far away from her 10-year-old dog and put out a plea to rehome him somewhere local.

Sarah said: “As soon as I heard about Jodie looking to home Jak closer to Diana I just thought, ‘I’ll have him. I’m local so I can pop to Redwalls any time and the difference it will make to Diana is immeasurable’!

“So much so, my children and I travelled to Kent the next day to collect Jak and the reunion was so happy and emotional that I knew I had made the right decision.”

Northwich Guardian:

Diana was very surprised when she found out the news and was ‘in tears with happiness’.

Now Jak is able to come into see Diana two to three times a week – which has made a huge different to her life.

Jodie said: "It's made such a difference to her mood. She's putting make-up on again.

“She has a dog bed in her room for him when he comes to visit.”

If you would like to see more from Redwalls, you can follow the nursing home on TikTok: @redwallsnursinghome.