DOG owners are being urged to keep their pets on leads around local harbours and cliffs are one pet was seriously injured and another had a miraculous escape.

Watchet Coastguards had been on a routine cliff rescue exercise in Kilve when a dog ran over the top of the cliff and fell into the arms of rescue technician Neil Staddon - halfway down the cliff face.

That pet escaped uninjured, but a retriever called Gem was not so lucky when she jumped of Watchet's West Pier at low tide on Wednesday morning.

The six-year-old suffered a serious injury to her back leg when she fell onto rocks below.

Unable to reach their pet, her owners, who were visiting from Banwell, called out coastguards on the advice of local residents.

Gem was soon located, wrapped in a blanket and stretchered ashore (pictured) then taken to a local vet for emergency treatment.

Coastguard spokesman Simon Bale said the dog's owners had done the right thing by not attempting to rescue their pet themselves, but urged owners to keep their animals on leads for their own safety.

l On Saturday night coastguards were called to West Street beach in Watchet after reports that two men had jumped into the Washford River.

The men were believed to have been drinking but a search could find no trace of either man.

"The police requested the assistance of the coastguard to search the river from the beach inland," said Mr Bale.

"After a short time it was confirmed that the two males, who were believed to have been intoxicated at the time, had already left the river and made their way away from the sea front."