Before 80-year-old Bristol man Francis Kedward's sister died, her friend Primrose Curtis promised to look after him and his dog, Rowan.

Mr Kedward had a stroke at the wheel of his car and crashed last week, and Mrs Curtis has been making sure he is comfortable in hospital.

But she is worried about what has happened to Rowan, who was in the car and ran away from police officers.

Mr Kedward, 80, who lives in Stapleton, is in a serious condition in Frenchay Hospital after crashing his car in Yate on Sunday, December 14.

Rowan was in the car with Mr Kedward at the time of the crash and was captured by police at the scene – but later escaped and ran away.

Relatives and friends of former Rolls-Royce worker Mr Kedward are appealing for people to keep their eyes peeled for his three-year-old Shetland sheepdog.

Mr Kedward crashed at the roundabout near the Tesco in Station Road at 6.30pm.

Police believe he lost control of his dark green Nissan after suffering a stroke, and the car veered across the roundabout and hit a post.

Mrs Curtis, who lives in Hawkesbury Upton, said: "The dog had a clip on him and it came undone and he ran away. Apparently Rowan then hit a car but carried on running.

"We've searched and searched but no one has seen him. We're not sure if he would find his way home, which is in Trendlewood Park, Stapleton, because he would have to cross some main roads.

"I'm exhausted from all the searching and we're really worried about him."

"Mr Kedward is very poorly. He has internal bleeding in the brain, he's been paralysed down the left hand side and has got no speech. He was unconscious until Wednesday.

"His nephew is coming home from Thailand to see him.

"He comes to our house and I groom Rowan. He's a show dog and most weekends we go to shows."

Anyone with information on the Bristol pensioner's dog should call Mrs Curtis on 01454 238246.