She may have narrowly missed out on the top prize at this year’s Crufts but a McDonalds worker from Middlebie was left over the moon after she and her four-legged friend finished as runner up in the 125th anniversary of Crufts, the world’s largest dog show.

Charley Donaldson, 19, of Glasgow Road and two-year-old Whippet Hazel fought off competition from a host of other dogs to win reserve best in show out of nearly 22,000 happy, healthy dogs at Birmingham’s NEC.

Miss Donaldson, a former pupil at Lockerbie Academy, works as a manager at the Johnstonebridge motorway service station in order to help pay for her love of dog shows.

And her passion for dogs was clear for all to see on Sunday as Hazel, who Miss Donaldson co-owns with Leigh Morris and George Waddell, picked up the best of breed prize on Sunday before being chosen as the best group Hound dog.

This meant the duo progressed through to the showpiece Best of Show final at this year’s Crufts, presented by the Kennel Club.

In the end it was West Highland Terrier Devon and her owner Marie Burns who were eventually crowned the best dog at the event.

But after seeing her beloved pet pooch put her best paw forward at Crufts 2016, presented by the Kennel Club, Miss Donaldson, who hopes to one day work as a dog handler for the police, was left beaming with pride at her and Hazel’s performance in the West Midlands.

“It feels amazing, I don’t think it has sunk in yet, I can’t believe it” said Miss Donaldson, who is a member of Middlebie & Waterbeck training club.

“When the judge came over and pointed at me, I just was in shock, I’m speechless.

“Hazel was amazing, she showed her socks off, she just wanted to play, she has so much character and personality.

“In 2014, she was top dog as puppy, 2015 she ended up top whippet, so this is just the absolutely pinnacle of everything that could happen.

“We’ve had her since she was a puppy, we chose her at two days old and ever since then she’s just been special.

“’I’ve been showing at Crufts since I was eight years old so this is my 12th year here. My first ever show dog at Crufts was actually her grandfather so it just works so nicely.”