A lifeboat crew rushed to the rescue of a springer spaniel lost at sea near Highcliffe yesterday morning.

The dog, called Snoopy, was swimming out to sea from Steamer Point at around 10.45am when its owner called 999, and Portland coastguard put a message out on VHF radio for any passing boats to assist.

Having received the message the Mudeford RNLI lifeboat crew launched, but shortly afterwards the owner reported that Snoopy had made it back into shore unaided.