�A dog found severely emaciated and wandering the streets of Romford is looking for a new home now that he has recovered.

Bruce, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross, weighed just 15kilos when he was found – half what he should have.

Now that he has been nursed back to health by Hornchurch Animal Rescue Centre, he needs a new home with a caring family.

Bruce, who is thought to be aged about two, still gets nervous sometimes due to the treatment he is thought to have suffered at the hands of his previous owner.

When found, his ribs and backbone were poking through his fur.

Donna Evans, founder of the rescue centre, said: “I think he was shut up somewhere and starved. Even dogs on the street don’t get as skinny as Bruce was because they scavenge, so I think Bruce was locked up.

“He’s a completely different dog now to when he was found and it would be really, really lovely if we could find him somewhere to live.”

Bruce gets on well with other dogs and would suit a family with children over the age of ten. Though he received a lot of interest after being featured in the Recorder, no one has yet come forward to offer him a home.

Donna said: “He is a big dog and he needs a confident person to be his new owner.

“He’s still quite young and he does get nervous, but he’d make a lovely pet.”

n If you can help, call Donna on 07523 180744 or visit www.hornchurchpetservices.co.uk.