A dog has been rescued after it was spotted on the busy M4 motorway. 

The loose pooch was spotted by officers from Wiltshire Police's Roads Policing Unit at around 10.45am on Monday morning between Junction 15 and 16.

The brown and white spaniel Benji was seen on the hard shoulder before being given a ride in the back of a police car on the way to be reunited with its owners.

Swindon Advertiser: Rescued dog Benji leaving muddy foot-prints in the back of a police car that were 'well worth it' after he was rescued from the M4Rescued dog Benji leaving muddy foot-prints in the back of a police car that were 'well worth it' after he was rescued from the M4 (Image: Wiltshire Police)

This incident had a happy ending as the dog's owner was located on the footbridge waving at the officer.

The officer had been pulling over a speeding driver travelling at 97mph when they spotted Benji before issuing the offender with a Traffic Offence Report

In the post, a spokesperson said: "RPU collected Benji after he found himself on the M4 this morning, we asked Wiltshire Police Dogs for some tactical advice regarding tennis balls and how to get muddy paw prints off the alcantara…

"Pup returned to his owner and we are nursing an elbow injury from said tennis ball."

A picture of the galavanting Benji was also shared and he had indeed left some paw prints on the leather seat of the police car.