A dog was lucky to escape serious injury when he pierced his lip with a long line of fishing wire that threaded through his mouth.

His owner, an Ashford security guard, has now issued a warning to walkers around Singleton Lake about discarded fishing gear that could be dangerous to animals.

Jamie Weatherall, 28, from Brookfield, had taken his 14-year-old Jack Russell, called Harry, for a walk around the lake with his friend Tiberiu Stoica on Sunday.

After being let off the lead, Harry came running back with a long line of wire hanging from his mouth.

Jamie said: "If it had been barbed wire, it could have cut up his mouth or throat.

"I picked Harry up and took him back to the fishermen we had just walked past.

"Thankfully, they knew what sort of wire it was and luckily were able to just slip it out from his lip like a needle. They were really helpful and I’m very grateful to them.

"What if he had swallowed it? I don’t think he would have survived that."

Singleton Lake, a man-made fishing lake, is popular with joggers and dog walkers.

Jamie says he wants to warn people to clear up and not leave potentially dangerous objects lying around.

He added: "There’s absolutely no reason these things should be left behind.

"The majority of fisherman down there are proper fisherman who care about the environment, clean up after themselves and clear their stuff away but there are obviously some people who do not.

"There are sharp buoys and hooks just left in the middle of the lake, which really is not on.

"It’s not just dogs. Other animals could get to them, too, and get hurt.

"I am sure it is just a few people and hopefully if this message gets out they will think twice about clearing up."