A dog that went missing after its owner was assaulted and knocked unconscious in Greenwich before Christmas has sadly been found dead.

Ex-councillor Paul Morrissey, who was left in a pool of blood near Maze Hill and awoke to find his dog missing, is said to be "absolutely devastated."

He also said that Greenwich Council had now agreed to provide and repair lighting and Mobile CCTV in the area he was attacked.

Mr Morrissey, 53, was attacked from behind whilst walking his dog near his house on December 22, and was found by neighbours in a pool of blood.

When he awoke, covered in dried blood, concussed and with no memory of the incident, his young terrier cross was missing.

Search groups were set up by the Missing Paw Team and hundreds of appeals and flyers were distributed in a community effort to locate the missing dog.

But on Monday (January 6), the team behind the search party confirmed that Tilley had been found dead at a nearby railway line.

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The dog was likely hit by a train on December 27, dying instantly, and has since been formally identified by microchip scanning.

Speaking on December 31, Paul said the experience "had been horrible" and was like losing a mate.

Following the attack, which took place on Tom Smith Close in Greenwich at around 9:30 on Sunday, December 22, Paul went to bed at his neighbour's advice, likely concussed.

It was only when he woke up with no memory of the attack but covered in blood that he realised his dog was missing. His only memory is a vague recollection of a girl's voice coming from the bike sheds behind the community centre.

Paul was treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital for a head wound, and was told he had been kicked in the face, resulting in bleeding and swollen lips.

Vicki Hudson, the director of the Missing Paw Team UK, said that whilst this had not come as a surprise being so close to a railway line, this was "never the outcome anyone hoped for."

She said Paul was "absolutely devastated" following the news, and that he would now need to recover himself following his injuries.

But Vicki said "all he could do is offer praise for the strangers who have tried to help him since the assualt."

Anyone with any information regarding the assault can contact the police on 101.