A dog has had a lucky escape after it was rescued from the banks of the River Thames after getting stuck in mud.

The border collie was in distress, unable to move and sinking further and further after getting into trouble off Queensmill Road, Fulham.

But firefighters arrived in the nick of time and rushed to save the animal, a male, and managed to pull it to safety at about 9.30am on Saturday.

He was shaken and in shock and handed to RSPCA officers, who took him to Putney Animal Hospital.

Dog walker John Miles, 46-year-old surveyor from Petley Road, saw the incident unfold and called the emergency services. He said: “I was just ambling along and noticed this old border collie walking along the river bank, which I thought was strange.

“I watched it for a bit because it didn’t look like it was with its owner and then it got stuck and was obviously in distress. The fire brigade arrived with inflatable pontoons and went in. They did a tremendous job because he wouldn’t have lasted much longer. He was covered in mud and shivering.”

Another witness, Emma Farquharson, said: “When they had dragged it out of the river it completely collapsed, it’s legs crumpled. They had it wrapped in blankets and a duvet probably provided by kind neighbours, and it was given oxygen from a child’s mask. Fortunately, I had some snacks and it happily took them from my hand and at this point sat up and asked for more. Clearly a lovely, gentle-natured dog.”

It is not clear how the collie ended up in the river but it is thought it escaped over the wall at Fulham Reach.

The RSPCA took the dog to Putney Animal Hospital where it was treated for shock. Vets are still trying to track down its owner.