A dog was rescued from a muddy death last night.

Sherbert, a terrier bitch, disappeared while her owner was jogging near the Ship and Lobster pub.

She raised the alarm and the dog was found by a lifeboat crew struggling to keep its head above the mud 25 feet from the sea wall.

The Gravesend RNLI (pictured left) pulled the dog from the mud. They praised Sherbert's owner for not trying to rescue her pet, but calling for assistance.

"Too often people will try to rescue their animal and get into difficulties themselves," they said.

"Then the dog gets free, but their owner drowns.

Firefighter Paul Reeve from Thamesside was also involved in the rescue.

"It was shaking very badly, but otherwise unhurt," he said.

The fire crew hosed down the muddy terrier - but not with icy water.

"Before we turned on the hose, we warmed the water," Paul said.