THIS picture shows Isle of Man Coastguard on their way to help save sheep which had become stuck on cliffs.
The animals were reported to be in trouble at an area known the Bows, about one-and-a-half-miles south west of Port Erin, by a local fisherman.
Two cliff technicians from Port Erin Coastguard decided to undertake a training exercise to descend to the rescue of the sheep, which were both trapped in a steep gully with the cliff edge close by.
Coastguard volunteer John Keggin, who was one of those involved in the exercise on Sunday morning, said: ‘They had been there for two weeks and what grass they had was now just mud.
‘On approaching the first sheep, it made a leap into the adjoining gully from where it should manage to escape to safety.’
The second sheep, which was stuck lower down in a more precarious position, was encouraged into a safer area from which it could make its own way back up.
He added: ‘It’s important to note that every year we’re called upon to rescue people who get into difficulty on our coastline so we’re happy to carry out animal rescues such as this one.
‘Firstly, it stops members of the public putting themselves in danger, and secondly it provides the team with a good opportunity to practise our rope rescue skills, often in difficult terrain.’