A pet dog is recovering after being knocked out in a freak cricketing accident.

Sue Budd took her 13-year-old lahsa apso called Rick to a match at Bury Cricket Club when a batsman hit the ball for six — and it accidentally struck the dog about 100 yards away.

Mrs Budd of Ringstone Close, Prestwich, took her dog, accompanied by husband Jim, to Pet Medics vets in Worsley.

She said: "It was absolutely horrible. Rick kept gasping and, when I handed him over to the vets, I wasn't sure what would happen. I was in tears.

"Due to the impact of the ball, Rick suffered brain injuries."

Despite being weak and drowsy, he is now making a slow recovery at home and is expected to be back to normal in two or three weeks.

Mrs Budd, who went to the third team match between Bury and Glodwick on June 7 to watch her 16-year-old son Jonathan play, said: "We're all so relieved that Rick is home and recovering.

"We got Rick from my mother about eight years ago and he's very friendly.

"It was all such a shock and Craig Belston, who hit the ball, couldn't apologise enough, though it was an accident.

"All of the players came running over right after it happened.

"Craig hit the ball into the air and I said to Jim 'can you see where that ball is going? Is it heading this way?' Just as he was answering me, the ball hit Rick and knocked him over."