Posh biscuits were needed to help coax out a dog stuck in rocks on a beach.

Rescuers had the tortuous task of bringing the dog to safety, using not only the expensive biscuits but also ropes and poles.

They finally brought the female pet to safety before the high tide came in.

The mission had also needed a helicopter and lifeboat as the pet’s woman owner had been stuck with her on the rock armour at Shakespeare Beach, Dover.

A Folkestone Coastguard spokesman explained: ”After much effort with ropes, poles, and the sacrifice of some posh Christmas biscuits one of the team was able to get a rope over the dog’s head.

“But the dog was in a position where there wasn’t room to get her out.

“So she had to be slowly coaxed along under the rocks until there was space to lift her, all with an imminent high tide.”

The doggy drama had begun at about 9.30am on Tuesday when Coastguards were alerted.

The woman was brought out by nearby Network Rail workers and checked over by paramedics from the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter.

But one of the two dogs she was walking was still underneath the rocks and unwilling to come out.

Persistent attempts by rescuers finally got her out and she was reunited with her owner and the second pet.

Those called out to help were the Folkestone & Langdon Battery Coastguard rescue teams, the HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lydd and the RNLI lifeboat from Littlestone.

A spokesman for the Maritime Coastguard Agency said: “The woman and dog were safely rescued and checked over for injuries.

“It doesn’t look like there were any.”

Coastguards thanked the Network Rail workers who had also ferried them and their equipment to the scene and back, saving valuable time.