SEARCH FOR MISSING DOG OWNERS

Coastguards have assisted police in Cornwall after two dogs were found abandoned on their leads.

A land, air, and sea search operation began when the owner of the pets, a 50-year-old woman, had disappeared along with her partner and their vehicle.

Police in Saltash had been alerted after the two dogs were spotted alone by Weard Quay, where they are regularly walked.

The headland was searched for three hours on Wednesday 16 January 2001 before the search moved inland.

Jerry Woods from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "Some of the terrain we have had to cover was quite difficult.

"It’s been rocky shore, mixed in with marsh - there has been no access from the road or from the path. We used the coastguard to transport a team around, drop them off on the headland and carry out a search.

"Some of it was quite swampy and marshy - it was a long and difficult search."

The search was called off after the couple contacted police to say they were safe and well and would be returning to their home in Saltash near Plymouth.