THE winner of this year's Pet Idol competition is a golden retriever who likes to sing along to her favourite television programmes.

Joanne Nutty's dog Eve won the hearts of Adver readers to take first prize in the 2006 competition.

Joanne, 32, of Dickinson Road, Thurleigh Park, says she was overjoyed when she found out Eve had scooped first prize.

"Obviously I was phoning up and voting but I limited myself to one vote a day," she said.

"I told my family, people at work and friends and anyone I knew to vote.

"I was surprised when I got the letter saying she had won because the deadline passed and I didn't hear anything for a week and I thought well that's it'."

Growing up, Joanne's family always had dogs but Eve is her first since leaving home.

"I got her when she was six weeks old and she's two and a half now," she said.

"She is friendly but a bit of a wuss.

"When the photographer came to take her picture I thought she was going to run upstairs and hide under the bed.

"We go for walks and she lays down beside me if she sees someone coming towards us."

But while Eve might be timid when she is out and about, at home she enjoys nothing more than a night in front of the telly.

"Apparently the breeder lets them watch TV when they're very young," said Joanne.

"She sings to Emmerdale and Coronation Street.

"As soon as the music comes on, even if I'm upstairs, she goes to the TV and sings her heart out."

Joanne will now receive a portrait of her pet by Simon Butler, worth £275.

"It'll be a nice Christmas present from her to me," said Joanne.

Kelly O'Brien's cat Luv took second prize, winning her owner a Philips Marathon vacuum cleaner from Argos and a £100 voucher to spend at PetShed.

Child minder Kelly, 37, of The Prinnels, got the six-year-old cat three years ago.

She had lost her previous cat Little Ells and after putting up posters and searching the streets, she thought she had found him.

It was not until 18 months later that a vet told Kelly the cat she found was in fact a girl.

"I couldn't believe it," she said. "She looked the same and made the same crying noise as Little Ells, like a duck.

"She's had a stressful life - she had her tail bitten off by a dog but she's just so gorgeous.

"She's got these big seal eyes and she is my everything.

"My friends and family voted but I was amazed. I love her to bits."

John Perrott's chihuahua Toby was proud to take third place in this year's Pet Idol.

John, 61, a vehicle technician of Chiseldon, lost his wife Lillian to cancer in June and he said: "Toby is all I've got left. He is my right arm."

John's daughter Naomi entered four-year-old Toby in Pet Idol.

John said: "I was surprised she entered him and surprised he came anywhere.

"We rang up and voted like you would but I'm very, very surprised and pleased. I think Lillian would have been very proud.

"It would have been her birthday on Friday so we're going up to her grave to tell her then."

John says Toby might be small but he makes a big noise.

"He doesn't like anybody at first but once he gets to know them he is all right," John said.

"He's a very good house dog. He's a bouncy character and I wouldn't be without him."

As the third prize winner Toby's owner gets a £100 voucher to use at PetShed.

John, whose wife was 60 when she passed away, said: "At one time he was a one lady dog. He wouldn't go near anyone else apart from Lillian.

"Now I don't know if it's that he knows she isn't coming back but now he is no trouble.

"He goes to my daughters in the day and I take him for a walk when I get home."