A WORCESTER dog had its day with a show-stopping performance at the country's most prestigious dog show.

Five-year-old Lucy, a bearded cross collie, helped the Midlands team win the Inter-Regional Obedience Competition at Crufts on Saturday.

The family pet, owned by Gwyneth Hooper-Wheeler of Swallowfields, Warndon Villages, had top billing in the team.

She showed why with an almost flawless performance, scooping the top individual award and helping the team beat eight other regional teams.

Lucy, who has been given obedience training since she was a puppy, had to show off her skills in the main arena at the show. Led by Mrs Hooper-Wheeler, she was put through her paces in a number of demanding tests.

Despite going last under enormous pressure, she scored 291 points out of a total of 300.

Mrs Hooper-Wheeler said she was stunned by the performance. "It's taken a couple of days for it to sink in," she said. "It was such hard work."

Paying tribute to the support of her husband, Peter, who is currently in hospital, she said: "I was under a lot of pressure.

"My team mates didn't tell me that if Lucy hadn't won her individual class, we wouldn't have won the team event.

"I was thinking about my husband and I had to keep my head together."

Lucy's performance earned her a shield for her individual victory and a gold medal for the team event.

She is now looking to win a place in the top obedience event at Crufts next year.

"She's so clever," said her proud owner. "She loves to please, and she just wants to do more and more."