EIGHTEEN-month-old pug Maximus has won the Lancashire Telegraph Pet Idol competition.

Owner Julie Cockerill, 25, of Blackburn, said she was “really happy” after being given £250 to spend at Pets At Home, and a 20”x16” portrait of her pet as a prize.

The teaching assistant said: “I didn’t expect Maximus to win because there were so many other entries, but I’m really happy he did.

“He’s a lovely dog. He’s very bubbly and friendly, and loves other dogs and people.

“The money will be spent on food and toys. He loves suckling his toys like a baby would.”

Julie and her partner, Craig Watson, 26, have now bought an 11-week-old black pug called Myles to keep Maximus company.

Hundreds of people entered the competition, with pets ranging from bunnies to reptiles.

Photographs were taken by a photographer from DL Images and appeared in the Lancashire Telegraph, and readers voted for their favourite.