Vader is a black German Shepherd

Vader, a two-year-old German Shepherd, tumbled over a wall and plunged 50ft into a shallow sewer. “We had been searching when Vader suddenly leapt over a 4ft wall, and a second later I heard a splash,” said Dog handler, Pc Simon Jeffrey.

“A colleague and I ran 150 yards to the scene and found Vader lying in a small sewer with his limbs all splayed out. I lay in the water with him for an hour and 20 minutes with my arm round him, cuddling him, until the fire brigade arrived and lifted him out,” continued Pc Jeffrey.

Despite falling 50ft and lying in freezing water for over an hour, Vader escaped with only minor bruising and a broken claw.

Vader is recovering well and will return to duty shortly.