A working cocker spaniel trapped in an enclosed area after falling into water near Dartmouth has been saved thanks to lifeboat volunteers who coaxed him onto their boat.

Dart RNLI crews arrived at the scene by Old Mill Creek at around 5.30pm on Tuesday, March 10, as the two-year-old pooch had run into trouble whilst on a walk with his owner.

Andy Mold, from Dartmouth, had taken the pup, Benji, on a walk but became concerned when he went missing for ten minutes.

"He loves swimming and runs off all the time", said Andy, "but this time I just knew something had happened to him".

Benji had slipped down a sheer rock face, and despite his efforts to scramble down, Andy was unable to reach him.

He dialled 999, and tried to keep the animal calm whilst they waited for help.

Once on site, the crew coaxed him onto the d-class vessel which proved difficult as Benji is unsure around people he doesn't know.

The crew had to remove their helmets to persuade him aboard, then brought him back to the lifeboat station at Coronation Park.

A spokesperson for Dart RNLI said: “[Benji] was reunited with its grateful owner who had the sense not to go in after it.

“He was as wet as the dog on the reunion however!”

Andy said the pair are "still in shock", but are grateful to the crew for rescuing them so quickly.