An exhausted dog who was nudged to shore by a "guardian angel" seal after almost drowning in a fast-flowing river was last night recovering from its ordeal.

The dramatic rescue happened just before 6pm last night beneath Newport Bridge, Middlesbrough, after the German shepherd cross fell into the River Tees.It turned to cross to the other side, but as it fought the tide its strength began to fail in the middle stretch of the water.

Passer-by Chris Hinds watched helplessly from the shore as the dog, which was bleeding from its head, went under the water.

But, as reported in today's Northern Echo, a seal miraculously appeared and pushed the animal to safety.

Mr Hinds, 43, and his 18-year-old son Raymond had already tried and failed to help the stricken animal.

"My son ran home to get the mobile phone and call for help," he said. "The dog went swimming out into the river. It was struggling against the tide. Then the seal just popped up. I have never seen anything like that and I don't think I ever will again.

"It actually pushed him across to the mud bank. Then the seal backed off and was just watching all the time.

"By the time the fire brigade had got there I'd got the dog out and there were about four seals in the water watching.

''This dog would not have survived in the water if it hadn't been for that seal.''Fire crews were called to the scene by Raymond and helped capture the confused dog.Sub-officer Mark Baxter, of Stockton fire station, said: ''By the time we arrived the dog was on dry land and there were three seals bobbing in the water keeping an eye on him.''

The dog was thought to belong to a local elderly man, so a two-hour lifeboat search of the River Tees, between the Tees barrage and the Tees dock, was carried out in case he too had gone into the water.

No one was found and the search was called off at 9.45pm. Yesterday, the exhausted animal - which is between five and eight years old - had its head wound stitched up at Grange Veterinary Surgery in Stockton before being taken to the RSPCA centre in Great Ayton.

RSPCA inspector Laura Glover appealed for its owner to come forward.

"The dog is in good condition but it doesn't have a collar or a microchip," she said. "He's got a puncture wound to his head and injuries to his rear leg, both of which we think he got trying to get out of the water. He was very quiet and just shocked."

Seal expert Paul Bullimore, of Scarborough Sea Life Centre and Marine Sanctuary, said yesterday the rescue was entirely feasible.

"It doesn't surprise me. Seals are extremely intelligent, social animals. They are a lot more intelligent than dogs. They also have strong instincts and would be able to sense if another animal was in danger.

"Common seals - which populate the River Tees - are also more placid than the grey species."

He said the centre's resident seal had performed a similar act when a man had fallen into his pool. "He pushed him to safety. I also know of people who have taken their dogs in the sea and seals have popped up to investigate. They are naturally curious."