Digby the dog's life just got a lot better as he was taken in by loving owners after spending seven years in dog kennels.

Digby has swapped the Gemini kennels in Wickford for a home life in Somerset of runs on the beach, roast dinners, and evenings lounging by a log fire.

The Labrador cross, who is now 11, was rescued by the kennels after co-owner Michael Knight found him wandering the streets of Tilbury.

His hard start to life had left him with some behaviour problems, but staff at Gemini helped him learn to trust people again.

He said: "When he first came in he was a bag of bones and quite aggressive, so we couldn't rehome him at first. His character changed a lot, however,"

Over the years, no-one stepped up to offer Digby a new home until he featured on TV as the longest-serving resident in kennels.

Gemini got more than 300 calls and picked out the "ideal owners" for Digby, who drove all the way from Somerset to pick up their new pooch over the weekend.