TWO springer spaniels who ran over a cliff and landed on a ledge 30 feet down are recovering today after their 36-hour long ordeal.

Ben and Toby, who are nine months old, were out for a walk at Capel when they ran over a cliff and fell on to the ledge.

Their walker spoke to a number of people, hoping to find someone who would be able to rescue them, but 24 hours later, the dogs were still down the cliff.

That evening, she called Dover Coastguard who sent the Langdon and Folkestone Coastguard Rescue Team to the cliffs.

Using cliff gear, they descended the cliffs and managed to find one of the dogs and bring him back up to the top of the cliffs. Despite an intensive search of the cliffs, they were unable to find the other dog who had hidden amongst the dense gorse.

The next morning, Dover Coastguard received a 999 call reporting barking at the cliffs.

The Coastguard teams returned to Capel and were able to find the second dog who was again brought to the top of the cliffs using the cliff gear.

Peter Legg, Dover Coastguard senior watch manager, said: "We were very pleased to have been able to help this lady and the dogs and are glad that Ben and Toby, despite some dehydration and shock, are now safe and well.

"We would advise all dog walkers to keep their dogs on leads near the tops of cliffs. It is very important that members of the public do not attempt self rescue if their dogs do fall over cliffs.

"For this reason, we are always very willing to assist when dogs do fall over cliffs. People who attempt to rescue dogs themselves from cliffs are putting themselves in grave danger and severe injuries and worse have resulted from this scenario."