A WESTBURY man has been forced to call off the Scottish leg of his Round Britain coastal trek after his dog fell ill.

Chris McQuillan and Moose, his mastiff Labrador cross, had reached Aberdeen when the dog contracted a gastro-enteritis condition.

After taking Moose to a local veterinary clinic for treatment, Chris decided to come home when his pet failed to recover.

Mr McQuillan, 45, of Breton Road, said: "Moose came down with a stomach issue a couple of weeks ago and I took him to a local vet who gave him something to clear it up.

"But when we got to Aberdeen, it came back, only much worse, so I stayed in a local Travelodge for a couple of days to see if he would improve.

"But it didn't, so I decided to catch the train home on Saturday and took him to Vets4Pets, who have given him some probiotics, paracetamol and antibiotics."

Mr McQuillan has now called off his Waggy Walk trek for this year.

He hopes to complete the Scottish leg between April and October next year with Moose and his fiancee Karina Simons, 44.

Mr McQuillan had already been forced to delay the charity trek for a week in July when Moose developed a limp on his left front leg.

The pair came back to Westbury for a week to allow Moose to rest and recover before setting off again.

Chris and Moose started the Scottish leg of their 7,500-mile trek on June 27 heading north from Berwick on Tweed along Scotland's coastline to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point in Britain.

They originally began their epic challenge from Portishead in North Somerset, on June 29 2018, walking 'anticlockwise' around Britain.

The pair are raising money for various charities, including Bath Cats & Dogs Home, where McQuillan first met Moose.

To donate, go to www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk/donate_today/donate_to_us/donations/ and mention Chris and Moose in your donation.