An Edinburgh bus driver stopped and waited 'up to 40 minutes' to help reunite Diesel with his owners on Thursday. Pic: Tammy Hogg

But one member of the Lothian fleet is being heaped with praise after stopping to save a lost dog from possible danger in Dalkeith - then waiting for up to 40 minutes to help reunite him with his owner.

Tammy Hogg's seven-year-old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Diesel, managed to escape their back garden in Woodburn this morning as she got ready to go out for a walk with her family.

Tammy said Diesel had been sleeping on the couch having been given painkillers by a vet the night before, after suffering from a suspected spine injury on a recent walk.

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Tammy with Diesel (middle).

Another two dogs - Diesel's pups - were in the garden this morning and Tammy had been focusing on them.

She said: "I did not realise but Diesel must have nudged open the gate and we ended up running about trying to find him. We were out looking for him for about an hour and a half."

Facebook Appeal

The 25-year-old, who was with her sister, Bekah and partner Aodhan at the time, posted an appeal in local residents' group What's on in Dalkeith.

But shortly afterwards, Diesel, who is seven years old, was spotted on Newmills Road by a bus driver who pulled over the vehicle and went out to grab hold of him.

Lothian Buses then posted a picture of Diesel on Facebook with an appeal to find his owner.

Tammy continued: "Luckily a few people told us the bus driver had him (on the Facebook comments). Everyone just posts everything on social media so it's a great thing for cases like this.

"We had actually just gotten to where the driver was, as I'd been running around trying to find the bus stop. I actually saw the bus with its indicators on, but it left as I was sprinting after it."

Tammy said she heard the driver had been with her dog for up to 40 minutes before he was passed on to a dog warden who took him up to Candidacasa Kennels in Rosewell, Midlothian.

The Lothian Buses social media team also said they believe the driver had waited this long for the dog warden to arrive.

Tammy added: "It was quite a busy road he was found on. I would love to give the bus driver some recognition, if it wasn't for him I don't think my dog would've made it as he's ill.

"I reckon he would have been run over as he was on painkillers and not well.

"I would like to say a big thank you to the bus driver for his time and attention and it's very much appreciated. It's made us a very happy family again."

The name of the driver responsible for this act of kindness is not yet known.