COASTGUARDS who rescued a cancer sufferer's dog from a cliff-face have been honoured by the RSPCA.

Officers from the Skinningrove and Staithes units, in east Cleveland, were called when Buddy the sheepdog became stuck on a ledge 100ft below a cliff top.

Owners Dennis and Eileen Baker, whose son Jonathan was suffering from a brain tumour, were walking between Staithes and Runswick Bay when their pet fell.

After the two-hour rescue in 2003, Jonathan, who died in April last year, was reunited with his beloved dog.

Nine men were involved in Buddy's rescue, including one officer who was bitten on the hand.

Those involved were Eric Lorains, Paul Waugh, Gerry Pearson, Gordon Hogg and Leslie Brewster, from Skinningrove, and Les Lintott, David Moffet, Keith Gregory and Chris Coulter, from Staithes.

All have been awarded certificates of commendation by the RSPCA.

Coastguard members dangled over the cliff edge at Port Mulgrave, trying to coax Buddy to safety.

The rescue also inspired Mr Waugh to raise money through a sponsored bike ride to help buy a bed for the Butterwick Hospice in Jonathan's name.

He said: "It is nice to get rewarded with something like this. That rescue meant a lot to us all, to reunite Jonathan with his dog before he died."

He told how Mr Pearson was bitten by an anxious Buddy as he dangled over the cliff side with a rope.

He said: "The dog was running up and down a ledge and with us on ropes so it was difficult to manoeuvre. Gerry was bitten on his hand and then I had to lassoe the dog to pull him up."

The crew were given the commendations by RSPCA inspector Jeff Edmonds.