A springer spaniel who vanished during a walk a week ago has been reunited with his owners after being rescued by a lifeboat crew in the UK.

The soggy doggy - called Sprig - was trapped on rocks beneath the highest sea cliffs in England.

The nine-year-old disappeared on August 22nd after his owners, Mark and Susie Sanders, took him to Foreland Point in Devon. The couple organised search parties and put up posters appealing for help.

They even drafted in local fishing boats and an animal ambulance team to check along the shoreline - but had no luck.

Sprig was finally saved after a chance sighting by Minehead's volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew during a patrol on Sunday.

The team were monitoring a sheep that had strayed on to the cliff and were turning away when a movement below the animal caught their eye.

Helmsman Andrew Escott said: "We went in as close as we could and then we could see it was a dog. It was about 30 feet above the water and we couldn't work out how it had got in that position."

"He had clearly been there for some time because he was licking water off my dry suit. And he did seem rather pleased to see us."

It was only after Sprig had been taken back to Minehead lifeboat station and given food and water that it became apparent he had been the subject of a major search.

Mr and Mrs Sanders, from Wheddon Cross, near Minehead, were amazed when the call came.

"We were coming to the conclusion that he must have wandered off and then been stolen," Mrs Sanders said.

"I just could not believe it when we had a call to say the lifeboat crew had spotted him and rescued him. It's amazing: the best news ever. Bless them."