AN appeal in the Bucks Free Press - and a TV appearance in the arms of singer Michael Ball - has had a happy Christmas ending for a deaf pup called Puddles.

A Sands family, who already have a deaf dog called Blue, adopted Puddles from Stokenchurch Dog Rescue where he was among more than 40 dogs all in need a new home.

Puddles is settling in with Bethany Garrett, 20, her brother Mitchell, 18, and their parents, Keith and Lynn Smith, in New Road.

A month ago the welfare staff began looking for a suitable new home for Puddles, who is now three months old. SDR wanted to find a family who already had a deaf dog and older children.

An appeal for a suitable home was made in the Free Press as Puddles was chosen with homeless dogs from other rescue centres to appear on ITV's Paul O'Grady Show.

Bethany and her family saw the BFP appeal and realised they fitted the bill. They also watched Puddles appear with Michael Ball on the show.

They were so keen to be considered as Puddles' new owners that they sat in their car outside SDR's kennels for six hours to be first in for assessment.

Staff agreed they were ideal and Puddles has been settling in with the family.

Mrs Smith said: "We love him to bits even though he's been trying to pull over our Christmas tree. He's also getting on well with Blue, our collie cross who we adopted from Stokenchurch five years ago."