HE’S a pub regular who doesn’t drink or say a word – but is nonetheless loved by all who meet him at the bar.

Now, though, Ralph the toy dog has gone missing from The Farmers Arms in Combe Florey, and a desperate appeal has gone out to bring him home.

Landlady Pat Vincent, who runs the pub with her mother Margaret Riley, said: “Ralph was a gift when we first moved to the pub 13 years ago – he was supposed to be my guard dog.

“He lives by the fire in the bar area on his own stool.

“He’s part of the furniture here – all the children like him and all the adults too.

“On special occasions like Christmas and the Royal wedding and the Royal birth, we dress him up.

“Over the years he’s been kidnapped on a couple of occasions by friends after a glass of wine or two – and then they’ve phoned up demanding a ransom!

“So when he went missing about a month ago after a busy weekend, we just assumed somebody had taken him and he’d turn up after a day or two, but he didn’t.

“We’ve asked everybody in the pub and texted friends but nobody has seen him.

“I think maybe somebody has taken him with them by mistake and forgotten all about him.

 “He’s my mate and I miss him – it would be lovely to get Ralph back.”