A Labrador who lost more than 40% of its body weight in six months has been named Pet Slimmer of the Year.

Pepper - a Chocolate Labrador - could hardly walk when he began his diet a year ago.

Owner Esther Davis, from Kirby Lonsdale, in Cumbria, said the four-year-old dog was a four-legged "Hoover" who would wolf down anything he could reach - once eating two birthday cakes.

Pepper tipped the scales at 11st (69kg) before starting his diet.

Rude comments

Ms Davis said: "Absolutely anything he Hoovers up. Every time we'd even shake out the tablecloth he'd be there in a flash."

She added that Pepper was so fat when she got him that she needed to buy a horse leash to put around his neck because no dog leash would fit.

Insensitive people would also make rude comments about his massive size.

But now, thanks to a strict diet and exercise regimen, the once portly pooch weighs in at a healthy 6st 8lb (42kg) - 4st 10lb less than his original weight.

Top honours in the cat category went to Tiger Toogood, who lost one third of his body weight - going from 1st 7lb (9.4kg) to 1st (6.3kg).

The competition was created by pet food company Hills to draw attention to pet obesity which the company says effects half the cats and dogs in the UK - around seven million.

The awards - �2,000 worth of holiday vouchers and �500 worth of pet products - were handed out by BBC1's Animal Hospital presenter Shauna Lowry.