27 May 2010 Last updated at 07:24 ET

Devon gundog back on farm two years after disappearing

Sam is once again sleeping in the bottom of a wardrobe in a barn

A farm gundog has been reunited with his owners more than two and a half years after disappearing.

Sam, who is a "Sprocker" - a springer cross cocker - went missing from Ray and Christine Robinson's farm at Bere Alston in November 2007.

The dog was found wandering on a road in north Devon and, despite not having a collar, a dog warden was able to trace his owners from his microchip.

"I'd given up hope and believed he must be dead," Mrs Robinson said.

Sam was taken from outside the farm moments after leaving Mrs Robinson's side and she believes he may have been snatched.

"He's such a friendly dog that if someone had driven along and opened their door, he'd be straight in the car," she said.

The whole community in Bere Alston helped the Robinsons' search for Sam, including horse riders, dog walkers and postmen.

Although Mrs Robinson did not believe she would see her dog again, she said her husband always thought Sam would come back.

"When we picked him up it was like something out of that Cilla Black TV programme Surprise Surprise," Mrs Robinson added.

Sam has now settled back into his old routine with the farm's five other dogs - and found his old bed in the bottom of a wardrobe in a barn.