THERE was a four-legged takeover of Lydiard Park for one of the biggest dog shows in Swindon’s calendar.

Now in it’s fourth year, the annual Lydiard Bark show, organised by the team from Eastcott Vets, was a roaring, or should we say barking, success.

Hundreds of dogs took part in contests, ranging from the dog with the waggiest tail to the dog the judges would most like to take home.

The grass around the judging area was a sea of picnics and pooches, with dogs of every size from the smallest Daschund puppy to the biggest St Bernard coming along to enjoy the fun.

Not even the sizzling sun could keep the crowds away and Nikki Burton, practice manager at Eastcott Vets, said it was on track to be the best show put on to date.

“We’ve got new dogs competing each time and people travelling from further and further away,” said Nikki.

“And, of course, we’ve got some of the familiar faces too.”

This year there were 13 categories.

The old favourites including best child handler, most handsome and best in show returned but there were a couple of new additions too.

“We’ve got a survivors and saviours category this year which is about rescue dogs and their owners," said Nikki.

“There’s also a golden oldie round, which is a new one too.

“Each category is sponsored by a local business – the top six dogs get rosettes and the top three get prizes from the sponsor.

“We’ve also got a raffle and the prizes for that are donated by local businesses throughout the year.

“If anyone is interested in getting involved in sponsoring or donating prizes for next year please just get in touch.”

Each year the event raises money for a chosen charity.

In 2016 it brought in over £2,000 for Oak and Furrows Wildlife Rescue Centre and this year, the organisers were hoping to beat that figure.

The chosen charity for 2017 is Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, who were on hand to distribute information about their work but also to enter a couple of dogs into the show.

Gorgeous Labrador Isaac was on a break from his life as a hearing dog up in Scotland and decided to take part in the ‘most handsome’ category.

Somehow he only managed to come fifth but was pleased enough to reward himself with an afternoon snooze in the shade.

Fellow hearing dog Holly is just a puppy at eight months old, and won’t be fully trained and ready to move in with a deaf person for another 10 months or so yet.

The miniature poodle sent hearts racing all over the show and only narrowly missed out on the prettiest bitch prize.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People’s fundraising manager, Lauren Maher, said it was a “huge thing” for the charity to be chosen by Eastcott Vets for 2017.

“We’re entirely funded by donations,” she added.

“Unlike the Guide Dogs we don’t get any government funding.

“We rely on donations and gifts but one of our main sources of income is our sponsor a puppy programme where people can help fund a puppy and get updates and pictures on how its getting on.”

Lauren explained that it is still difficult to get the word out about just how valuable hearing dogs can be.

“Even at a place like this people come over to the stand and don’t quite know what we do,” she said.

“They know about guide dogs but they’ve never thought about hearing dogs.”