A PET dog from East Lancashire could follow Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road and become a stage star in the Wizard of Oz.

One-year-old Dave, a mini schnauzer, is performing challenges against four other dogs on the BBC One show Over the Rainbow on Saturday nights.

The show is searching for a new Dorothy to star in the West End classic, with the winning Toto, the canine star of the show, performing in a gala performance at the Albert Hall.

Dave, cheekily nicknamed Dangerous by his owner Rachel Owen, 37, because of his innocent and soft look, was only entered into the competition by chance.

“My sister loves these kinds of shows and she suggested entering Dave,” said Rachel, of Weir. “I never thought we would get this far.

“We took him to the auditions in Coventry. The dogs were paraded around in groups of 50, with two chosen from each group.”

Dave, who is Rachel and boyfriend John’s first dog, got through the open audition of 700 dogs and has since performed in front of Andrew Lloyd Webber at his home.

Rachel said: “The final five have to perform different tricks every week on TV. Last week it was speak on command and we hadn’t taught Dave that.

“He has picked it up quickly though and has it down to perfection now.

“There is a couple of shows left before we find out if Dave is chosen by the judges on May 22.” If successful Dave, who came from Ambleside in the Lake District to Rossendale as a young puppy, will be trained to perform in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production of Wizard of Oz for one night only.

“It will be pretty surreal to see him on the stage,” said Rachel.

“To us he is just our normal dog, we never imagined getting this far in the competition. It would be amazing to win.”