Dog helps pupils with reading at primary school in Somerset

A chocolate Labrador is helping pupils to hone their reading skills at a primary school in Somerset.

Each day, educational assistance dog "Fernie" is brought into Winford Primary School near Bristol to read with the children.

Head teacher Nick Gardner, who owns the dog, said Fernie's ability to respond to commands on flash cards encourages the children's literary skills.

He said: "If children can see that the dog can read the flash cards, then they can do it too - so it's a huge motivation for them."