Warning after dog and owner rescued at Durdle Door

The cliffs above Durdle Door are up to 100ft (67m) high

Coastguards in Dorset have warned dog walkers to keep pets on leads while walking near cliffs and not to attempt to rescue them if they fall.

On Sunday afternoon they received two near-simultaneous 999 calls, one reporting a dog over the cliff and the other reporting the owner in trouble.

The rescue helicopter and a coastguard team were scrambled to the cliff at Durdle Door, west of Lulworth Cove.

The man was airlifted to the top of the cliff and the dog was also rescued.

Bruce Lack, watch manager at Portland Coastguard, said that after the dog ran over the cliff and fell the owner had "put his own life in danger in a misguided attempt to rescue his dog".

He added: "The dog was rushed off to a vet by the coastguard where he was checked over.

"The dog is OK and both he and his owner should survive their ordeal.

"We always advise owners to keep their dogs on leads when walking the cliff paths and never to put one's own life in danger in an attempt to rescue a beloved family pet."