Ananova:

Britain's only lifeguard dog has been sacked.

Bilbo, who has helped save three lives, has been relieved of his duties by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

The RNLI, which now runs the life-saving operation on the beach in Sennen, near Land's End in Cornwall said: "He would fail the resuscitation test."

According to the Mirror a spokesman added: "We can't employ a dog as a guard. They are banned from the beach."

Bilbo, a 14-stone Newfoundland, was regularly seen on the back of a quad bike with owner and head lifeguard Steve Jamieson.

He swam around struggling bathers and when they grabbed the float fixed to his harness he paddled to safety.

Mr Jamieson, 54, said he was upset at the decision. He said: "It's a scandal, an absolute disgrace. Bilbo has had fantastic support.

"He's had 6,500 hits on his website, been on TV and I've written a book about him."