THANKS to the efforts of North Tawton firemen on Saturday night 'Jazz' the labrador is now safe and well and back in the arms of her owner Frank Bye.

'Jazz' was stranded in Bridge Cottage, North Tawton, whilst the waters continued to rise in the nearby River Taw flooding this and nearby properties.

Fire crews, busy evacuating people, heard Mr Bye had a dog. Unsure of the owner's whereabouts they broke into the property and found 'Jazz' paddling in several inches of water.

North Tawton fireman Twiggy Lake said: 'She was a bit cold and wet but licked my hand as if to say 'thanks very much.'

Mr Bye and his wife had been having a meal with friends at the Railway Inn whilst all the activity was going on down at his house.

It had already been quite an eventful night for them because they had been transported to the pub, at the landlord's insistence, by a JCB when flood waters prevented them travelling there by car. Whilst there they had a call saying properties were being evacuated.

'My main concern was the dog because we were not sure what level the water was,' Mr Bye said.

'We have had Jazz for four years. We are so grateful to the firemen for rescuing her and the

vets in Okehampton who did not charge for keeping the dog there for two nights.'

l Mr Lake said during the evening a second dog and a horse were rescued from flood waters in North Tawton.