Breezy days no longer put the wind up Ben the nervous labrador, after his owner came up with a way to cure his fear of foul weather.

Maureen Munro, 65, was being driven to distraction by her five-year-old pet's irrational behaviour.

Every time a stiff wind blew around the widow's home in South Shields, South Tyneside, Ben would go berserk.

The problem became so bad that a vet had to put Ben on tranquilisers.

It was then that theatre enthusiast Maureen came up with a plan to cure her cowering pet's phobia.

She asked her local amateur dramatic society for a sound effects tape, so that she could slowly get Ben used to the sound of the wind.

She said: "I got Ben from a rescue centre after our old dog died, and I knew he may have a few problems.

"He was quite nervous anyway, but it was only when the wind blew up one night that he really went crazy."

Maureen has been a fan of Sunderland's Royalty Theatre for several years, and was on her way to a production when the idea struck her.

She said: "I asked if they had a sound effects tape of the wind, and whether I could borrow it.

"Now, I am playing him the tape every day, and he is slowly getting more confident.

"It is going to take time, but I am very encouraged by the early signs, and I think we will beat the problem in the end."

Martin Wallwork, of the Royalty Theatre, said: "At first this had all the hallmarks of a shaggy dog story, but when we realised Ben really needed our help we were only too happy to oblige."