A DOG with a love of swimming sparked a major rescue operation on Sunday when he got trapped in a tree in a riverbank and nearly drowned.

Barney, an 11-year-old golden retriever, swam across the swollen River Arrow at Oversley Green and when he tried to get back to his owner, Jackie Pamment, his rear leg got stuck in the branches of the overhanging tree.

Mrs Pamment watched in disbelief as the dog hung, barely able to keep his head out of the water.

"The whole weight of his body was hanging in the water and it was all he could do to keep his head out," she said.

"The tree was away from the bank, so there was no way he could get back.

"He was crying in pain and kept looking at me to ask me to do something about it. I just told him to keep calm."

Mrs Pamment, a Shiatsu practitioner from Bleachfield Street, said she felt relaxed throughout the ordeal.

But she added: "I just couldn't believe it was happening, it was like a nightmare."

Mrs Pamment considered getting in the water and swimming to Barney but instead phoned the dog's co-owner Roger Pamment, who came down to the river bank and tried to lift him up.

"Barney thought 'Oh good, I'm being rescued' and sat on Roger's shoulders.

"He was up to his armpits in water and I realised I was going to have to get more help. I though of phoning my neighbour, then decided on the fire brigade.

"They came out in full force - two fire engines, a helicopter and a paramedic.

"One fireman got hold of Barney by the collar and lifted him free of the branch."

Barney was treated to Shiatsu massage overnight and by Monday was ready for further adventures.

Yesterday, he was reunited with his rescuers at his home in Sherwell Drive.