ACTOR Martin Clunes has stepped in to help a distraught dog owner who has not seen her beloved pet for more than a month.

Victor the Red Setter has gone missing and was last seen at around 6pm on Friday, March 18 at Hursey near Beaminster.

His owner Jackie Riley has been desperately seeking information about his whereabouts and has been particularly concerned because Victor needs urgent medication to prevent blindness.

She has now been offered some assistance from an unlikely source.

Mr Clunes, who lives in west Dorset but is currently away filming in Australia, has offered to help Jackie by doubling the reward for anyone who returns him and helping to publicise her search.

Jackie said: "I got in contact with him and he has very kindly agreed to support me in trying to find Victor and offered to double the reward."

Jackie said the search for Victor had left her "desolate" and she was desperate for any information or potential sightings.

She is keen to investigate one potential sighting, with a local fisherman reporting seeing a Red Setter on Hive Beach near Burton Bradstock at first light on Saturday, April 23.

Jackie said she is keen to rule out any local dogs of the same breed that could have been in the area that day.

She said: "I'm trying to rule out whether it was a local dog or if it could have been Victor.

"I can't get to the bottom of it and would appreciate it if anyone came forward."

Jackie has also previously raised concerns that her beloved dog could now be further afield and hopes the support of Mr Clunes helps to spread word of her search far and wide.

Her main concern remains Victor's medical state due to his serious eye condition.

Jackie said: "He will go blind without treatment."

Victor was microchipped at the time he went missing and had telephone numbers on a disc attached to his collar.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts or any potential sightings is asked to call 01308 868949 or 07745 572196.

The reward for anyone who returns Victor now stands at £4,000.