A PUPPY called Bazil is enjoying a brush with success after being voted the cutest in Lancashire.

Bazil, a five-month-old fox-red labrador, was entered into the competition to find the county's top dog by his owner Kath Cotton from Heron Close, Pleckgate.

Kath, 38, heard about the Pro Plan Puppy Optistart competition after reading about it in the Lancashire Telegraph in July.

Her pet won the Lancashire heat after he caught the judges' eye with his glossy coat and cheeky expression.

Kath said: "We had a labrador before but unfortunately he got run over in January, and we missed having a dog around.

"We didn't want one the same colour though, so I did some research and found the fox-red colour that is a really nice gingery-coloured coat.

"We got him at eight weeks from a specialist breeder in Selby.

"He's bubbly and bouncy - a real cheeky chappy.

"When we take him on walks everybody stops us and says how gorgeous he is."

Bazil will be rewarded with a professional photoshoot and a year's supply of Pro Plan Puppy Optistart by dog food manufacturer Purina.

Kath added: "It is wonderful to win.

"To us Bazil will always be perfect but it is even better to have others acknowledge it as well."

Bazil is already living a pampered lifestyle, but Kath reckons that this is to avoid him tearing up the house.

He said: "He's got his own room with a bed, food and water and it's worked - he hasn't made a mess yet apart from the odd shoe."

Kath's son, Jordan, aged 12, came up with the name after the TV character Basil Brush.

Kath said: "Jordan came up with the name because of the fox colouring, but we changed the 's' to a z' to make it more unusual.

"Jordan treats Bazil like his best mate."

Pro Plan Puppy Optistart is proven to increase a puppy's immune response by 50 per cent, helping them resist common illnesses and get the best start in life.