An assistance dog and her devoted owner have defied the odds to claim the ultimate crossbreed prize at Crufts.
Francesca Cairns, from Sheerness in Kent, and her 23-month-old spaniel Delila grabbed top spot at Scruffts, the competition for non-pedigree dogs at the world’s greatest dog show.
Delila is trained to support Cairns, 19, with her autism and a heart condition, and the pair helped each other beat the nerves in front of thousands of spectators to be crowned winners on the famous green carpet.