Coastguards lower dog owner down cliff to rescue pet

Coastguards have lowered a dog owner on a rope down a cliff to help rescue her cocker spaniel.

The dog, named Luna, was running around excitedly after falling 40m (130ft) at Stonebarrow near Charmouth, Dorset, on Friday.

Her owner was lowered to calm Luna and help specialists put her in an animal rescue bag.

The successful effort involved personnel from three coastguard bases and two fire stations.

In a Facebook post, Beer Coastguard Rescue Team said it was called at about 13:00 GMT, along with colleagues from West Bay and Lyme Regis.

"Luna was uninjured and running around the cliff, and would not come to our rope technician," the team said.

Specialists from Charmouth and Weymouth fire stations were then summoned to help lower the dog owner down to the wide plateau.

The plan worked and the scared cocker spaniel came straight to her, rescue teams said.

Dog cliff rescues are so common that emergency services hold specific training events for the scenario.

In February, 40 people worked across two days to rescue a cockapoo, that was also called Luna, after a similar Dorset incident.

Coastguards have reminded owners to keep dogs on a lead near cliff edges.