Lassie would have been proud.

A selection of starry-eyed dogs paraded themselves before talent scouts in a bid to win a part in a film.

They excelled themselves by standing on hind legs, taking part in a Lady and the Tramp style cuddle and finding time to put their paws to the coveted acting contract.

Twenty-five dogs, from Essex, had been invited to the Mercury Theatre in Colchester for auditions for a star role in a video promotion.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.