A DOG trapped in a park lake is now safe in kennels after its ordeal.

Dog wardens at St Helens Council were called to the scene in the town's Taylor Park to find the black mongrel in a distressed state struggling to get out of the water. Wardens think the dog had been in the water for about half-an-hour.

They successfully rescued it and the exhausted dog was taken to the council's holding kennels.

The council's Executive Member for Environmental Protection, Councillor Terry Shields said: "This distressing incident does highlight the problems associated with dogs which are allowed to stray. Straying dogs can easily be harmed and can cause road traffic accidents".

St Helens Council Dog Warden Service has collected 238 stray dogs since April this year. Stray dogs are kept seven days and, if they have not been claimed, are re-homed.

It is an offence to allow a dog to stray and the council do issue owners who come forward to re-claim their pet with a prescribed fee of £25, owners are also required to pay the kennelling costs.