It was a busy weekend at Crufts, but all the preparation paid off for one Whitchurch couple.

John and Jane Edwards headed to the NEC in Birmingham last Thursday for the biggest dog show in the world accompanied by their Shetland Sheepdogs Ross and Jensen.

And they came away with first and second places in their respective classes.

John said: "It went very well.

"There were about 12 dogs in Ross' group which he won and Jensen took second in a considerably larger class, so we were very pleased with that.

"It's a big thing to win a class at Crufts.

"Very few people who go there expect to win anything, you're just pleased to be there, so to come home with a rosette is great."

John was also in the Shetland Sheepdog area of the 'Discover Dogs' section which features every breed recognised by the Kennel Club and gives visitors a chance to learn more about breeds.

The couple were certainly in good company at Crufts with nine winners coming from Whitchurch, plus winners from Penley, Ellesmere and Welshampton - and there were many more who received second, third and reserve places.

Unfortunately, the climax of the four-day event - the crowning of the Best in Show winning whippet, Tease - was overshadowed by protestors running into the arena with the aim of speaking out against the show.

John continued: "Sadly it is a bit old hat that the security at Crufts expect something like that.

"We breed healthy dogs, some of which go on to be show dogs, but the greater percentage go on to be pets.

"We invest a lot of time and money in our dogs, so these protestors should be trying to take down puppy farms, but it is much easier to target people like us because we are more visible."