He was an elusive fugitive - an animal on the run who evaded capture for months. Andrew White finally meets Dwain the dog.

FRIENDLY, obedient, playful and well-mannered - surely this can't be the same stray dog which shunned attention for so long.

But since he was captured, lured into a trap by a pork pie, Dwain the superstar collie has become a model pet.

The crafty canine has settled into his new home in Sedgefield, the County Durham village where he led residents a merry dance for nearly six months.

Dwain was first spotted by staff at Sedgefield Racecourse last August and concern for his welfare sparked frantic efforts to catch him.

But, despite an elaborate series of traps, desperate Dwain rang rings around his would-be captors until the fateful day in January when he was tempted by one pork pie too many.

Dirty, frightened and jumping with fleas and ticks, the defeated dog was given a new home by racecourse commercial executive Cassandra Jackson, who lives in Sedgefield with her husband Richard and their other dog Norman.

When Cassandra collected him from the kennels, Dwain was so exhausted he curled up in a corner of the dining room and fell asleep.

But the dog soon realised he was on to a good thing and is now thriving.

Cassandra, 26, said: "He is very loving and wants attention all the time. We can't get over how friendly he is. He is really well-mannered and will do anything you want him to."

The couple were terrified that Dwain would try to escape from his new home and, true to form, he seized his first opportunity. "We were so scared he would get out of the front door," said Cassandra. "My colleague, Amy, looked after him when we went on holiday, but when we came back and opened the door to bring in our cases he was off."

A search party was organised, but the dog was nowhere to be seen. Fearing he was lost, the couple returned home - to find Dwain waiting patiently for them on the doorstep. Now he is regularly allowed off his lead.

Dwain has lost none of the celebrity status he achieved while on the run, appearing in adverts for the racecourse and featuring in the Racing Post newspaper.

Cassandra said: "People stop us all the time in the village and ask how Dwain is. He's a little star.