Three-year-old German Shepherd Major was caught on a spike as he tried to grab hold of a suspected car thief.

But after his handler PC Jason Cooke managed to free him, the dog continued the pursuit and cornered his man.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Major narrowly escaped certain death. He was lucky that the spike, which passed close to a major artery and also his bowel, did not puncture them."

Heavy bleeding

Scotland Yard said PC Cooke and Major had been called to help after a suspected stolen car was seen in Leyton, east London.

After the vehicle stopped, the driver fled pursued by Major across a main road.

The dog grabbed the suspect's leg as he was jumping over a fence topped by metal spikes.

The man dragged Major with him and the dog was impaled on the spikes.

PC Cooke lifted the dog off and Major continued the chase and cornered his man in bushes.

Major, bleeding heavily, was given first aid at the scene by local officers before being taken to a veterinary hospital.

Major is now recovering at home.

The arrested man was released on police bail pending further inquiries.