Real life Lassie: Dog saves pensioner's life after he hears dementia sufferer tapping on pipe following fall

It's an extraordinary tale of rescue and heroics which could have come straight from the script of the hit television itself.

When dementia sufferer David Feltham tripped and fell on his driveway on a freezing cold winter's night, rescue came from a little pooch who bears a striking resemblance to wonder dog Lassie.

Little Collie-cross Jack heard the pensioner's desperate tapping on a drain pipe, which was his only way of signalling for help as he lay prostrate in sub-zero temperatures.

The heroic dog kept barking at the sound of the tapping until owner and neighbour, John Wheatley, 67, got out of bed - and spotted his friend lying outside.     Read Full