A POOCH named Patch is driving his mistress crazy with his addiction to dog-ends.

The Jack Russell's owner - the appropriately-named Yvonne Stubbs - took on the 14-year-old dog six months ago when a friend's mother went into a hospice.

But on the first day in her home in Coulby Newham, Middlesbrough, Patch began raiding the ash trays.

Now he pesters 54-year-old Yvonne and her friends by begging at her feet for a ciggie when they light up.

The family are so desperate to wean him off the weed, Yvonne has even considered using nicotine patches.

Yvonne said: "I don't begrudge anybody a fag, but this is ridiculous. I would try nicotine patches on him but he's 14 now - that's more than 90 in doggy years - and I think he's past giving up.

"Besides, I don't know where I would put them and he would just scratch them off.

"Patch is as fit as a flea apart from his 20-a-day addiction. He makes noises and begs until he gets what he wants from you."

Yvonne added: "He doesn't like whole cigarettes, just the ends, because I think they have got more nicotine in them. He chews the tobacco and spits the filters out."

Now Yvonne and 18-year-old daughter Lucy are trying to give up smoking themselves - for the sake of Patch's health.