HOURS of hard work training and competing with their pets has paid off for young dog owners who will be competing at Crufts, the world's top dog show.

Five young handlers from Chippenham Agility Club have qualified for Crufts Young Kennel Club Agility Dog finals, which started yesterday.

Hannah Pidduck, from Erlestoke, will compete in the mini dogs category for 12-15-year-old handlers with Shetland sheepdog Chester.

She will also compete with Belgian Shepherd Hal in the ABC (anything but collies) agility competition.

Her mum Jo has been involved with dog handling for more than eight years but has never made it to Crufts.

She said: "I am extremely proud of Hannah, she did really well to get there so quickly.

"It is so nerve-wracking watching them. It is even worse than being in the ring yourself.

"We have been entering competitions all year and Crufts is the culmination of that. It is the one event that everybody wants to qualify for.

"This is a significant achievement as fewer than 24 12-15-year-olds and a similar number of 18-24-year-olds have qualified from across the country."

Also competing from the Chippenham club, which is based at Staverton, near Trowbridge, are sisters Eleri, 12, and Cerys Simpson, 10, also from Trowbridge. Tom Brennan, 12, from Chirton, near Devizes, and Amy Lawson, 20, from Warminster, will also be vying for glory.

The Kennel Club runs Crufts, which this year is taking place over four days at the Birmingham NEC, finishing on Sunday. The Young Kennel Club was set up especially for dog lovers between the ages of six and 24 and encourages interest in the care, training and activities associated with dogs. It runs a competition alongside the main event every year.