Rushing the few hundred yards along North Shields Fish Quay to Union Quay, Tynemouth RNLI inshore station coxswain Michael Nugent and helmsman Paul Henderson quickly grabbed the struggling dog, a small terrier called Snatch, from the cold river and took it back to the lifeboat station.

The dog was wrapped in towels and looked after until his grateful owners, a young couple from South Shields, arrived shortly afterwards for a tearful reunion.

Mr Henderson said: "We always respond very quickly to reports of pets in the water because their owners very often get into difficulties trying to save them, and also because it would be pretty heartless to ignore an animal in distress.

"It seems as if the dog, called Snatch, ran over the edge of the quay chasing a seagull.

"Thankfully we arrived in the nick of time just as his owner was about to enter the water.

"Other than shivering a lot, Snatch was no worse for wear for his adventure."