A trainee rescue dog sent out on an exercise to find a hidden person passed his test with flying colours after finding a real group of lost people.

Scout, who still has another year of training before he becomes operational, has already managed to help a family that had gone astray.

The Woodland Mountain Rescue Team, based in the Peak District, Yorkshire, said it was very proud of the 2-year-old dog.

The team wrote on Facebook: "While out training last night the team's trainee search dog Scout was working in woodland searching out a hidden person when he came across the scent of two unknown people who had become lost in the woodland, were without a torch and did not know how to get to safety.

"Scout immediately returned to his handler to tell him he had found some lost people.