A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD search and rescue dog has been sponsored by staff at a North Yorkshire furniture store.

Workers at MFI in Knaresborough heard that the Search and Rescue Dogs Association needed help and now sponsor Toggle, a border collie based in Northallerton.

She has been highly trained to detect scent, enabling her to help rescue teams search for missing people in bad weather and poor visibility.

Although she is based in North Yorkshire, she may also be called out to attend major incidents up and down the country.

The sponsorship money provided by the store will contribute to her training.

It will also go towards a new, improved digital mapping system used in the search for missing persons.

David Blenkinsopp, store manager at MFI in Knaresborough, said: "We are delighted to be able to help the Search and Rescue Dogs Association because it plays such a valuable role in our local community.

"We hope that our sponsorship of Toggle will help them continue to do their great work."

Neville Sharp, president of the Search and Rescue Dogs Association, welcomed the donation., saying: "The sponsorship will enable Toggle's training to continue and the new equipment will make a huge difference in our detection of missing persons."