A DOG had to be rescued by firefighters after it fell through ice at a reservoir in Oswaldtwistle on Sunday evening.

The spaniel had been walking on land near Jackhouse reservoir with its owner, when it ran over the frozen water and fell through thin ice about 30metres from the banking, at 7:30pm.

A spokesperson from Darwen Fire Service, who attended the incident with a crew from Hyndburn, said: "The owner rang for help and when we got there the dog had been in the water for about 15 minutes.

"It was beginning to tire and kept lying its head on the ice.

"Darwen were called for assistance because we are a specialist swift water rescue crew.

"We used a sledge to get across the water and dragged the dog out of the hole.

"It was really, really cold, so we wrapped it up in aluminium foil and blankets and warmed it up in the back of the appliance.

"If we hadn't have acted so quickly, there might not have been such a happy ending."

- Do you know the owner of the dog? Contact us on 07850 740927