A train driver picked up an unexpected passenger when he rescued a dog roaming on the line.

Staff at Southeastern were appealing to track down the canine's owners after the pet was found in Folkestone.

The springer spaniel is now reunited with his owners and is safe and well after he was looked after by the driver while his owners were located.

The company took to Twitter in a bid to find the owners meanwhile staff posted on Facebook hoping to spread the word.

The driver, John Coatman, saw the animal on the line while approaching Folkestone before getting the dog safely on the train and then to vets in Ramsgate to see if he was chipped.

It was confirmed by Southeastern at around 4.30pm his owners were on their way to meet with the driver to be reunited with their dog.

Passengers at Folkestone Central reportedly first spotted the dog and tried to get him to come up to the platform.

Instead he ran off in the opposite direction towards the viaduct and Dover.

A driver on a train en route from Ramsgate spotted the dog on the line as the train approached Folkestone, picking him up and bringing him on board safely.

Southeastern added later: "DOGGY UPDATE: The owners of the dog have been found and are on the way to collect from the driver who is looking after it. Woof Woof."