A DOG has been saved by rescuers, who employed an unusual method of tying a sausage to a drone to guide her out of mudflats.

Millie, who is a Jack Russell-whippet cross, slipped her lead in Havant, Hampshire and disappeared.

After a search she was spotted out on some mudflats in a perilous position and initially resisted rescue.

Sussex Roads Police along with their Hampshire colleagues attempted to help capture Millie off the A27 at Emsworth.

She defied the efforts of police, firefighters and coastguards to rescue her from the mudflats, and there was cause for concern due to the tide coming in.

A spokesman for Sussex Roads Police said: "Thank you for your patience if you were caught up on the A27 around Emsworth on Thursday, January 13, whilst we tried to capture Millie with our colleagues from HantsPolRoads.

"Whilst we do carry a lot of kit, neither of our units were equipped with drones or sausages on this occasion."

Denmead Drone Search and Rescue Group, which was formed three years ago to respond to missing pets and people, eventually located her using a drone.

After checking the regulations of the Civil Aviation Authority and the weight restrictions of the drone, the rescue effort went ahead with a single, dangling, sausage.

Chris Taylor, the chair of the Denmead Drone Search and Rescue team called it a "crazy idea" but it worked in getting her to come to shore.

The Argus: Millie in the mudflatsMillie in the mudflats

Speaking to The Guardian Taylor said: “If we hadn’t had got her away from that area the tide would have come in and she would have been at risk of drowning.

“It was something we had never tried before – the sausages were the last resort, as we couldn’t reach her by kayak or any other means.

“Because Millie was hungry it worked at luring her away from the danger to higher ground, which wouldn’t go underwater.

"We certainly would consider using sausages again: every dog and search operation is always going to be different, but if we were ever in a similar situation again we would employ the same methods to lure the dog," he added.

After being rescued Millie did then escape again but owner Emma Oakes eventually got her back.

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.