A dog walker was rescued from the sea near a north Essex pier last night.

Essex Police officers were called to The Quay area of Harwich at around 9.20pm, following reports a man had gone into the water near Ha’penny Pier, while walking his dog.

A force spokesman said the man was out of the water shortly after and checked over by staff from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Harwich RNLI together with Clacton and Walton Coastguard teams were also alerted to reports of someone in the water.

A Coastguard spokesman confirmed crews attended the scene following reports of a casualty in the waters.

“But they had already been recovered from the water by police,” the spokesman added.