A VARIETY of four-legged contestants and their owners made their way to Anstey Park in Alton for the annual companion dog show, which had a range of classes to suit every breed, size and age.

With a liver-coloured Dalmatian, owned by a Miss Ward from Salisbury, being named best in show, best reserve was an Afghan hound owned by Linda Heath from Bucklebury in Berkshire, and best puppy was a chihuahua owned by Nicola Ballard, from Alton.

Mary Farley has been organising the show for 30 years and each year the money raised goes to a dog charity.

She said she was pleased with the number of people who came, with one dog owner coming from as far away as Poole in Dorset.

“And I think the reason is because it is a registered Kennel Club event and it is purely a dog show,” she said.

“We don’t have stalls or games and we aren’t allowed to sell refreshments.

“The weather was perfect, very sunny, but we now have a site under the trees which gave the dogs shelter and kept them cool while they waited to go in the show arena.”

The show classes ranged from pedigree and obedience to the real showstopper – the novelty class, which had prizes for the waggist tail, biggest eyes or the best trick.

And the dogs put on a fun show which brought applause from onlookers.

The show raised more than £250, which will be donated to Service Dogs UK, which provides dogs for people suffering from stress.