... and for Brandy The crew of Swanage lifeboat were involved in a similar doggy episode shortly after Walmer's rescue, fortunately with the same happy result.

Brandy, a two-year-old collie on holiday in the area with his owners, had been too busy chasing rabbits to notice a 100ft cliff at Anvil Point one evening and had plunged out of sight. He could not be seen, but after about 15 minutes his plaintive yaps could be heard from the base of the cliff.

Conditions were too rough the next day to rescue Brandy, but he was located and thrown opened tins of corned beef. Finally, on the following day, conditions moderated enough to allow Brandy to be plucked from his precarious perch completely unscathed after his two-day ordeal at the base of the cliff.

Owner Ted Bradley said after Brandy was safe: 'I am amazed at all the trouble they went to for a dog. If it was a human in the same position they couldn't have done more.'.