A perfect pooch from Welling has got his paws on the award for Battersea's 'best rescue dog.'

Barney, a four-year-old Rottweiler cross stole the hearts of judges at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home’s twentieth Annual Reunion Fun Day on September 7.

Barney’s story is known to millions of viewers of ITV’s award-winning series Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs which is filmed at Battersea.

The petrified pup, known at the time as Benny, was so scared that he would not go near anyone when he was first taken to Battersea in December 2011.

He was rehomed quickly but was taken back just two days later as his owners decided he was too big for their home Barney eventually found his forever-home with the Tuckwell family.

Ian Tuckwell said: "I can’t put it into words how happy I’m feeling about Barney winning Best Battersea Dog. He was just so terrified of the world and now he’s a different dog to the one I first met in kennels. He’s come such a long way and I’m really proud of him. He truly is a Battersea success story."