SEVEN-year-old Rachel Tinkler watched in horror as her beloved border terrier Sam tumbled into a ravine at North-East beauty spot.

Rachel had been walking two-year-old Sam with her mother's partner, Mick Mawhinny, on Thursday evening when the terrier lost his footing and fell into a beck at the bottom of a deep ditch in Castle Eden Dene, County Durham.

Rachel, who lives with her mother, Jacqueline, in Wingate, was hysterical when she saw her pet dog languishing 60ft below in the shallow water. Realising he could not reach the animal, Mr Mawhinny, called the fire brigade.

The Blue Watch team from Peterlee Fire station quickly arrived at the scene and managed to reach the terrier, bringing him safely to the waiting arms of Rachel.

Rachel's mother said: "It's Rachel's dog and she is with him all the time and we often take him for a walk in the dene.

"She was hysterical when she saw him fall and thought she had lost him for good, but when he was rescued it was just like a Lassie film when she got him back."

David Turnbull, community safety manager for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: "The dene has a lot of steep ditches and ravines and people as well as animals must take care when walking in the beauty spot.''

He advised dog owners to keep their pets on a lead while walking along the pathways bordering steep areas.