A dog that disappeared during a seaside walk is believed to have survived for six days in freezing temperatures by licking ice off rocks where he was stranded.

Border collie Max vanished during a walk at Brean Down, near Burnham- on-Sea, on December 29.

The pet scrambled up a rock face to avoid the incoming tide but he was unable to get back down and endured some of the coldest temperatures for more than a decade huddled on a ledge.

He was eventually seen sheltering from the wind in a crevice by a passing fisherman, who climbed over the rocks to rescue him on Sunday.

Owner Dave Rudge, of Weston-super-Mare, believes his 12-year-old dog can only have survived by licking frost and ice off the rocks to keep hydrated.

He said: "After six days we were beginning to lose hope of seeing him again. But out of nowhere we got a call from the Coastguard to say they'd found Max and that he was on a boat heading back to shore.

"We were over the moon to see him again. He had lost a bit of weight and was completely exhausted but he's fine now.

"We were just really worried because it was so cold. It had been at least minus four over New Year and Max was out in the cold all that time"

Max disappeared over sand dunes while out with Mr Rudge's wife Marina, 47, a car hire company worker.

Mr Rudge, 49, a civil servant, said: "He normally runs in and out of the sand dunes and then comes back to us. Looking back I think he might have run after a rabbit or something and got lost."

The couple and their son Kieran, 15, searched the beach, put up signs to say Max was lost and phoned the RSPCA.

Just as they were giving up hope fisherman John Thorne spotted Max sheltering on Angel Rock at the foot of Brean Down on Sunday afternoon.

Mr Thorne said: "It was a fluke that I spotted the dog.

"I thought I'd seen a paper bag fluttering in the wind but as my boat drifted closer I realised the shape was in fact a dog in a rock crevice.

"I tied my boat to the rocks, contacted the coastguard, and then clambered ashore to reach him.

"It was precarious, the rocks are very slippery, and the dog initially snarled and growled at me.

"But I managed to grab him, then move him onboard my boat before setting sail to Uphill.

"There was a telephone number on the dog's collar, so I was able to get in touch with Max's owners, who were understandably very relieved."