A PUPPY has been rescued after falling 80 feet down a cliff.

Coastguard officers from Lyme Regis and Beer were called after receiving a report of a dog running over the side of a cliff.

The owners of Reg, a seven-month-old springer spaniel, were trying to rescue him when officers arrived and a rope system was set up to bring him up to the top of the cliff, between Seaton and Beer.

A spokesman for Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team said: "Upon arrival at the scene, the officer in charge met with the owners to determine exactly what had happened and the location of the incident.

"Once the information was gathered, the team set up an edge safety system to allow officers to go to the cliff edge to see if the dog could be spotted.

"Once the dog was located, the teams set up a full rope rescue system. A rope rescue technician was deployed down the cliff to recover the dog.

"The dog was recovered to the cliff top, where it was reunited with its owners. They immediately took the seven-month-old springer spaniel to the local vets for a check over."

A spokesman for Beer Coastguard Rescue Team said: "Ourselves and the Lyme Regis Coastguard rescued Reg after he fell 80 feet down the cliff. He suffered a leg injury, We hope he makes a full recovery."

Coastguard officers have taken the opportunity to warn dog owners to never go after their pets if they run over the side of a cliff as they may injure themselves.

A spokesman for Lyme Regis Coastguard Rescue Team said: "Please keep dogs on leads near the cliffs but if your dog does go over never try and rescue it you are likely to become a casualty yourself."

The incident happened on April 14 but the information has just been released as the Coastguard team has not been posting about jobs they have responded over the past week. Her Majesty's Coastguard paid respects to the Queen and observed the official 8 days of national mourning for HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh.