This is the moment good-natured residents gather under a balcony and catch a falling dog with a blanket after it became trapped on an overhanging plant.

The incident was filmed in the town of Novelda in the Spanish province of Alicante and the footage has been widely shared on social media this week.

According to the news site Telecinco, the dog was alone on the second-floor balcony when it got trapped on the overhanging plant.

Apparently about to fall at any moment, local residents were alerted by the dog’s barks and rushed to gather some blankets before gathering under the balcony while the pooch was still able to cling on.

The dog eventually plummeted to the ground and the residents were at hand to catch it in the blanket held taut by the good samaritans.

Manuel Martinez, who filmed the footage, told Newsflash: “I live in Novelda and I was there at the time with some friends who did not hesitate to get some blankets to help the dog.

“The dog’s owners were away due to a family issue and no one was home at the time.

“We were notified by some neighbours and we went over right away.”

Martinez told Newsflash: “About 20 minutes passed from the moment we realised it was leaning over the balcony until the moment it fell.

“The dog was scared, but very grateful afterwards. It was returned to its owners later. The dog’s name is Pipo.”