SEARCH and rescue dogs from across the UK took on a challenging two-day exercise in Brightlingsea.

The exercise, which is the biggest of its kind in the country and involved both fire and rescue service and police dogs from as far afield as Scotland, saw the dogs put through their paces.

In the scenario led by Graham Currie, search and rescue dog handler, handlers led their dogs on to high speed boats from Brightlingsea seafront across to Mersea Island, where they began searching for casualties.

Despite challenging conditions, the dogs braved the wind and rain to successfully complete the first part of the task.

On day two, the dogs then carried out a more routine search of a nearby school grounds.

Representing Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was Cocker Spaniel Jarvis.