Dogs join Cornwall floods search

Sam and his colleague Fflam boarded a helicopter on Tuesday

Two rescue dogs from west Wales have been handed their first mission - to help find victims of flash flooding which caused devastation in Cornwall.

Sam, a springer spaniel and border collie Fflam have been flown by helicopter to join the search at Boscastle in the north of the county.

They form part of a team of 10 fire service rescue dogs on duty.

Up to 15 people are still unaccounted for following flash flooding and torrential rain on Monday.

Sam, based in Carmarthen, and Fflam, from Pontardawe, boarded an RAF air sea rescue helicopter at 0930BST on Tuesday.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service was asked for assistance just hours earlier.

Sam and Fflam are part of a team of 10 rescue dogs being used

A spokeswoman for the service said: "This is Sam and Fflam's first official job, although they were put on alert following an explosion in Glasgow earlier this year.

"They are both three-year-olds and have been jointly trained by the Dyfed-Powys Police and Search and Rescue Dog Association.

"The dogs have been accompanied by their handlers, Arwel Hughes, from Cross Hands, who looks after Flam, and Alex Baum, from Carmarthen, who looks after Sam."

Police divers and a body recovery team are helping search cars swept away when a wall of water hit Boscastle.

A massive clean-up operation is also under way in the village, littered with upturned trees and crumbling walls.