A LOVABLE dog with a waggy tail has won a £250 prize in a magazine competition.

Bess, an eight-year-old black spaniel, won first prize in the dog section of Park Home and Holiday Caravan's pets of the year competition, sponsored by Park Home Insurance Services.

Maureen Hill, who lives at a park home site near Tewkesbury, is Bess's owner.

Mrs Hill worked at Malvern Girls' College as supervisor in Ivydene House for five years and was a domestic supervisor at Malvern Hospital, also for five years.

She said she entered Bess for the competition because she thought she was a nice dog.

"She doesn't bark. She loves everybody. She's so happy and everybody loves her," she said.

"If I go to the pub in Upton everybody knows her and they all love her."

Mrs Hill said Bess had accompanied her and her partner Gordon Owen all over the county when they travelled in their camper van.

Bess came into Mrs Hill's life when she was going through a difficult time and her daughters encouraged her to get a puppy.

"It was the best thing I've ever done," she said.