A POLICE dog has been hailed a hero after helping track a suspected drink driver.

Canine crimefighter Vinnie, accompanied by his handler PC Paul House, were called to the junction of Wallace Avenue and Marine Parade, Worthing, in the early hours of yesterday morning.

On arrival, the pair found a car crashed into a parked coach.

The four-legged policeman then searched the area and found a suspect on the seafront at the end of George V Avenue.

The man allegedly failed a roadside breath test and was arrested at the scene.

A picture of PD Vinnie “smiling” with the smashed car was taken by his handler to celebrate his work.

Surrey and Sussex Police Dogs then posted the image on their Twitter feed, which has now been liked more than 150 times.

One commenter wrote: “Well done Vinnie, great work. #TeamWork.

If you would like to see some more police dogs in action, then follow @sspoldogsection on Twitter.

A spokesman from Sussex Police said: “Joel Elphick, 21, a waiter, of Golden Avenue, East Preston, has been charged with driving with 72mcg of alcohol per 100ml of breath in his system.

“He is due to appear before Worthing Magistrates’ Court on 28 September.”