A PHOTOGENIC puppy has shown that rescue dogs are not just scruffy rejects, by winning a handsome hound competition.

Diana Jackson bought whippet cross Oscar on November 29 last year, at ten weeks old, and it was almost a year to the day that she found out he had won the Darlington branch of Pets at Home's portrait competition.

She entered the dog, which came from the National Canine Defence League's rescue centre, in Sadberge, as a laugh, on a visit to the store.

She has been presented with a framed copy of the portrait, a copy of which is featured in the store at the Yarm Road retail park.

Ms Jackson, of Ravensdale Road, Darlington, said: "It goes to show rescue dogs are not all scrappy things. Usually a pedigree wins."

Catherine Gillie, manager of the rescue centre, said: "I'm absolutely delighted to hear that a dog from the NCDL has won such a prestigious award and I hope it will encourage other people to get a rescue dog."