EVE the Weimaraner has become the supermum of the canine world after she adopted a litter of rottweiler puppies.

The ten puppies were orphaned when their mother died of liver failure soon after she gave birth.

Following a frantic appeal to find them a home, they have found an unlikely surrogate mother.

Eve could not be more different to the rottweiler pups, but she has taken to them as if she was their mother, even though she is rearing seven puppies of her own.

Gary and Karen Scobell, of Ashington, Northumberland, own 20-month-old Eve.

Dog breeders Sharon, 35, and Peter Hardy, 33, of Evenwood, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, were heartbroken when their five-year-old rottweiler, Emily, died of liver failure after she gave birth to the puppies on Wednesday.

Knowing almost all of the litter would die without a mother, the couple began to search for a surrogate parent and were thrilled when the Scobells stepped forward.

Mrs Hardy said: "It is really wonderful. Gary and Karen have saved the lives of our puppies. We visited the puppies yesterday to see how they were getting on and it was absolutely amazing to see how Eve has taken to them."