The eight-month-old springer spaniel keeps trying to doggy paddle his way over to the Island and is leading his owners astray in the process.

Jasper is owned by St Bees Inshore Rescue team worker David Rogers, and his wife Susan.

One of the pooch's latest attempts to swim across saw David follow, resulting in his coastguard chums having to come and rescue him.

Susan explained: 'Jasper has developed this unfortunate desire to swim to the Isle of Man.

'He did it once when I had him out. I had to swim out and get him back.

'Then last Tuesday Dave took Jasper out for a walk along The Heads. The dog did it again and Dave had to swim out in T-shirt and jeans.

'He couldn't see the dog so went back for a life-ring from the promenade and told a member of the public what he was doing and to alert the coastguard if he got into difficulty.

'He then swam some 200 metres out looking for the dog but ended up having to be rescued by his own lifeboat team.'

David said: 'I don't know if he's seen the Isle of Man off the shore and he's always wanted to get there.'

The couple are considering bringing Jasper to the Island to get it out of his system.

'If that would cure him I think we would,' said David. 'Hopefully he'll grow out of it.

'I don't know what makes him do it.

'If he gets there we hope someone will turn him round and send him back.'