Mongrel bow-wows judges in hearing dog awards

Molly, from Shipley, has helped her 85-year-old owner Tony Higbed for eight years, alerting him to household sounds and danger signals that he cannot hear.

The annual awards recognise the work of the nation's hearing dogs in three categories – life-changing, rescue and heroic hearing dog of the year.

EastEnders actor Pam St Clement judged the rescue category of the awards, hosted by TV presenter Nick Ross.

She said: "Hearing Dogs for Deaf People is a jewel of a charity for me. Not only does it provide a second chance for a rescue dog by training it to be a hearing dog, it also gives a deaf person a second chance in life by helping overcome the isolation sometimes experienced as a result of becoming deaf."

Molly was trained as a hearing dog after she was given to the RSPCA.