A FAMILY is hoping its five border collies will bring back gold from the world's biggest dog agility show this week.

Doris and Norman Stokoe, and their daughter Sarah, all from Thornley, east Durham, will be making a 600-mile round trip to Kent to enter their quintet in the Supa Dog Agility Show, on Saturday.

Last year, the show attracted more than 3,000 canine entrants of all shapes and sizes, making it the largest agility show in the world.

Although the family only started entering their dogs on the agility circuit three years ago, their talent in the field has propelled them up the ranks with one of their collies, Chance, competing at the highest grade.

Mrs Stokoe said: "We got our first dog in 1999 and Sarah and I started attending obedience classes with it.

"While we were there, someone suggested we have a go at agility tests as it provides a greater level of obedience."

She added: "We now own five border collies and we spend a lot of time travelling to agility events.

"I wouldn't change it for the world - the dogs love it and we've made a lot of new friends."

The show will be staged at Hadlow College in Tonbridge Wells from Saturday to next Friday when the Stokoes are hopeful their dogs will be bringing home some medals.