Rescued dog broke the ice in frozen pond

Police and firefighters were called to Alexandra Park on Friday afternoon at around 2.45pm after the dog, which was not on a lead, ran along the icy water.

The animal then fell through the ice.

Firefighters mounted a successful operation using water rescue equipment to get the black dog out of the freezing water.

The pet was in the pond for around 20 minutes and suffered no ill effects from its ordeal.

Last week the Observer printed a warning from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents urging dog owners to keep their pets on a lead near frozen ponds and waters in the cold snap.

PC Duncan Cleverley said: “A large crowd gathered and police became concerned after we received reports of members of the public attempting to plunge into the freezing water to get to the dog.

“Thankfully no one did so, as this would have put them at serious risk and potentially made the situation much worse.”

Sergeant Simon Yates added: “No members of the public nor the emergency services were injured as a result of the incident, and the dog was safely reunited with its owner.”