A woman who saved a Belgian Shepherd dog after the pooch was tied to a rock, dumped in a river and left to die has revealed that she thought the dog was dead until she blinked.

It comes as a 31-year-old woman and 32-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty offences after the dog, named Bella, was spotted struggling in the River Trent.

Jane Harper was out walking on Monday afternoon in Farndon, Nottinghamshire, when her friend told her she could see the head of a dog bobbing in the water.

With no thought to her own safety, Jane, dived into the river and tried to lift the dog out, but couldn't.

Picture shows Jane Harper of Newark, Notts, rescuing a drowning dog whose lead had been tied to a rock and thrown in the River Trent

The animal, whose name was recorded on her microchip in 2010 as Bella, was taken to a vet where she is recovering

The dog's lead was tied to a large rock in a carrier bag. A police officer is pictured above holding the rock

Jane added: 'The water was so murky, I couldn't pull her out. I saw a lead wrapped around her leg, and a blue line that was leading down to something submerged.

'I got my arm underneath her and tried to lift her up.'

Bella had a carrier bag containing a large rock attached to her lead and is now recovering in the care of vets.

Jane added: 'I imagine she literally fought to get her head above water and managed to rest it on a step,' said Jane.

Jane is seen above trying to pull Bella out of the water. The dog is now received treatment and care

Bella is seen above tucking into some lunch after going through an awful ordeal on Monday

'How could anyone do this to her?

'I don't know how long she had been in the water but I don't think she could have survived much longer. It was just so cruel.'

Pc Adam Pace, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'We are still appealing for information about the circumstances of the incident, including how many people were involved.

'We are lucky that the kind member of the public found and rescued her. Whilst the dog is still quite poorly she has been showing some encouraging signs by eating so hopefully she will be on the mend.

'If you saw anything, or have CCTV or dash-cam footage in the area, please get in touch on 101, quoting incident number 103 of January 6 2020.'

Pc Pace previously said that while the dog was recorded as Bella on her microchip in 2010, her name may have been changed since then.