TWO men who retrieved a dead dog after a cliff plunge had to be rescued when they became cut off by the tide.

The rescue in west Dorset today involved the Portland Coastguard helicopter, Lyme Regis lifeboat and coastguards from West Bay.

The pair had been out searching for the family pet, an Irish red setter, which had disappeared over a cliff yesterday between Bridport and Charmouth.

The dog died in the fall.

After locating the dog underneath cliffs at Thorncombe Beacon, the pair began to carry the deceased pet back across the beach before they met the rising high tide.

Portland Coastguard was called at 10am by the distraught pet owner, who was in a place of safety. He said his son and son-in-law who had been carrying the dog were in difficulty.

A spokesman for Portland Coastguard said: “We were told an Irish red setter had gone over the cliffs at Thorncombe Beacon on Saturday.

“The following day the owner called us to say they were going to go out and search for the dog.

“After locating it, two relatives of the owner had the sad duty of carrying the deceased dog across the beach.

“Unfortunately, they got into trouble against the rising high tide and the pet owner, who was walking behind them, called us for help.”

The family, who were visiting the area from Middlesex, were not injured.