A DOG who used to sniff out warzone bombs became "stoned" when his nose led him to a suspected bag of cannabis.

Former Army dog, Kujo, was on a walk with his owner Jill Hirst near their home in Middleton-in-Teesdale, when he disappeared to investigate some rabbit holes on March 8.

Mrs Hirst, who was also walking her other pooch, Tess, at the time, said the eight-year-old Belgian shepherd was out of her sight for only a couple of minutes before she discovered him eating the unknown package.

The trio returned home but a few hours later Mrs Hirst and her husband realised Kujo was acting oddly.

The veterinary receptionist said: "He was sat on my husband's chest and swaying from side to side with his head looking strained. He turned round to try to chew his leg and rolled over it."

The couple rushed Kujo to Castle Vets, in Barnard Castle, where Mrs Hirst's colleagues ran blood tests and put him on a drip.

"They agreed he did look like he had had a mind-altering substance and although we could not pin it down to exactly what it was, we suspect it was cannabis," Mrs Hirst said. "I have spoken to people in the village since and many have said they are not totally surprised because that spot is probably used as a drop area."

Kujo vomited up a grit-like substance and leaves in the early hours of the next morning, but has slowly returned to full health.

The 53-year-old said she believed the suspected cannabis could have been dropped there for safe keeping by local "junkies" who could have been "spooked" by a police raid on a property the day before. However, this has not been substantiated.

Mrs Hirst said Kujo, who is a decorated war hero and once saved his handler from a knife attack, is now back to normal but would not be walked on that field for a long time.

She also warned other dog owners to be extra vigilant.

"It was bizarre and it could have been worse if he'd been stabbed by a needle," she said. "I have never seen it before and although I know it does happen, it's more common to see dogs come in after eating chocolate."

She also joked: "I hope they [the drug user] don't come asking for payment."