THE RNLI Lifeboat Crew ended up doing a bit of doggy paddle, after a pooch needed rescuing over the weekend.

On Saturday 16 April, the volunteers were alerted for the 12th time this year at Weston-Super-Mare lifeboat station.

At 5:14pm, Milford Haven Coastguard paged the Lifeboat Crew after a 999 call from a dog owner on Brean Down.

A golden Labrador dog had fallen from a cliff into the sea.

Boat, D-696 Anna Stock, and its crew made their way to Brean Down and quickly located the dog.

The helmsman, Andy Stone, manoeuvred the lifeboat into a position that his two crewmen member could retrieve the dog from the water safely, and without putting themselves in danger around the rocks.

The Lifeboat headed for safer water before deciding what was best to do with the stranded dog.

The crew made sure the dog was in good health, despite a few scratches from his ordeal, before deciding to walk it back up Brean Down.

The local Coastguard Teams from Burnham-on-Sea, and a very grateful and relieved owner were awaiting their arrival.

The volunteer Crew headed back to Knightstone Harbour and recovered the boat, where the shore crew made the lifeboat ready for service once again and stood down at 7pm.

Crewman, Paul Sargent, said: "This was a positive outcome to a potentially life threatening situation for the dog.

"We would like to remind dog owners that if this does happen to them not to enter the water, call 999 and ask for assistance.

"Entering the water has a extremely high chance of making any situation worse"