A couple who used their coats to shelter a dog from a heavy downpour are volunteers who have been doing charity work in Dover this summer, it's been revealed.

Bradley Walledge and Elise Rogers, both 16, were spotted in Biggin Street sheltering a German shepherd from heavy rain.

The dog’s owner had popped into Marks and Spencer just before the downpour and had tied it to a lamppost.

The act of kindness last week was spotted by Gala Bingo worker Jon Sparkes, who gave the pair umbrellas and posted pictures on social media.

It was shared nationally and has reached newspapers in Europe and Australia.

Mr Sparkes said: “I was very impressed with their actions it was very touching to me that anybody would take time to do what they did.

“I believe they’ve set a good example and I’m glad that I was able to help get them the recognition that their kindness deserves.”

The pair were also featured on ITV’s This Morning on Friday, interviewed by Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford.

The teens belong to the Dover-based programme National Citizen Service which is set out for 16 and 17-year-olds run by Future Creative in Stanhope Road, Deal.

'I’m glad that I was able to help get them the recognition that their kindness deserves.' - Jon Sparkes

It hosts a selection of community projects out of term time to benefit the district’s young people. It was during a lunch break in the town centre when they saw the dog, during an NCS social action project going ahead in Dover.

Mr Walledge, of Friars Way, is a Dover Grammar School for Boys student, who will begin studying his A-levels this month.

He said: “We saw the dog, and Elise and I are dog lovers and it started crying so we stood with it.

“When it went on TV it was really overwhelming. Eamonn and Ruth were both really nice and made us feel really welcome.”

Miss Rogers lives in Folkestone and attends the Dover Grammar School for Girls, she too will be starting her A-levels this month.

She said: “It was a German shepherd puppy and I have a German shepherd myself and I felt a bit bad for it.”

A spokesman from Future Creative CIC: “We’re so proud of Bradley and Elise and all of our Dover NCS teams.

“Whether it’s sheltering a dog from a Dover downpour to raising more than £3,000 for charities and much more, our eight NCS teams have been spending their summer holiday making a real difference across Dover, Deal and Sandwich.”