A very muddy dog had to be rescued by “incredible” firefighters yesterday (April 28) after trapping himself under a cricket pavilion.

Max the four-year-old Jack Russell was stuck under the building at Roding Valley Cricket Club, Buckhurst Hill, for more than three hours before the London Fire Brigade came to his assistance.

His owner Karen Leibovitch, 50, from Chigwell High Road, was walking Max with her other dogs Jenny and puppy Ziggy.

She praised the firefighters for their work.

“There was no way we would have been able to get him back out, thank God he’s alive,” she said.

“They were amazing guys.”

Max became stuck after running through a small hole under the pavilion with Jenny.

Although she quickly came out, Max was too big and was wedged beneath the building.

Using Jenny’s finely-tuned nose, Ms Leibovitch and the firefighters worked out where Max was before they cut through corrugated metal and wedged it open.

After the “very worrying” three hours, during which Max had gone quiet after scratching and crying, he eventually struggled out covered in mud.

Despite the stressful experience he’s now back to normal, said Ms Leibovitch.

“He was quite shaken up afterwards, he did not want to fall asleep because he was obviously quite frightened, but he is absolutely fine now.

“He has got a very happy, content demeanour, a very well behaved and calm dog.”