'Eyes light up when people see my therapy dog'

A woman whose cocker spaniel helps "brighten people's days" in care homes, schools and hospitals has called on more people to volunteer their pets as therapy dogs.

Cathy Gillespie from Garston said her four-year-old dog Fergus had always "loved cuddles" and when she retired she decided to apply for him to be a therapy dog.

He was accepted as a Pets as Therapy dog and the pair now spend time for the charity visiting people in schools and hospitals in Liverpool, where Ms Gillespie said there was a shortage of therapy dogs.

She told BBC Radio Merseyside: "Seeing people's eyes light up when they see him is amazing. It's brilliant."