A HOLIDAYMAKER has said a huge ‘thank you’ to local Coastguard teams after her dog was rescued from cliffs near Newport.

Ann and Peter Dickinson, from Stroud, were walking along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path between Newport and Cwm yr Eglwys on Tuesday (July 3)when their dog Laura, a collie-lurcher cross, disappeared over the edge of the cliff.

“One minute she was trotting along quite happily and the next minute she was not there. I think she might have seen a rabbit, ” said Ann.

“It was a huge drop and we could not see her at all but finally we heard her barking and she was spotted by other walkers.

“I did not have a signal on my phone and had to head back towards Newport to get help but some other people on the path managed to contact the Coastguard and stayed at the spot until they arrived.”

Teams from Moylegrove and Fishguard were soon on the scene, with Laura trapped on a ledge about a third of the way down the cliff.

It took the rescuers more than two hours to reach her before they finally managed to get her back safe and sound.

A Coastguard spokesman said: "A cliff rescue was set up in a very challenging location and a cliff technician was lowered to to recover Laura who was fit and well and she was returned to her owner."

“They were wonderful and I cannot thank them enough,” said Ann.

“Laura is around 11 years old we think as she is a rescue dog. She is absolutely fine and wagging her tail now and was so pleased to see me. We did not think it was possible for her to get through the gorse on either side of the path and that would stop her going over the cliff.”