HEROIC guide dog Timber has sniffed out a top award after saving the life of his Crewe owner.

The amazing Labrador has been named Heroic Guide Dog of the Year at a national awards ceremony, after bravely saving Arthur Griffiths from the path of an out of control car.

The courageous canine, who lives with Arthur and wife Pauline in Catherine Street, beat off rivals to become top dog in the Kennel Club competition in London.

The four-year-old scooped the title after demonstrating his outstanding loyalty and devotion to his owner.

Arthur, aged 55, and Timber were waiting for Arthur's eight-year-old grandson Joshua to come out of Cub Scouts, when Timber began to pull Arthur away from where they were standing.

Being totally blind, Arthur did not know what had happened when he suddenly heard a loud bang, until passers by told him that Timber had just saved his life.

What Arthur did not know was that two cars had crashed into each other with one spinning off the road and landing where Arthur and Timber had been standing only seconds earlier.

Arthur, a former street lighting engineer, who has been blind since 1991, said: "Timber is my hero and undoubtedly saved my life.

"If he had not moved us both further up the road, I dread to think what would have happened. Afterwards he just returned to normal and guided me home with my grandson - a true professional and my very special guide dog."

The awards were organised by The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association to recognise the extra special achievements and contributions that some guide dogs make to their owners' lives.

Association chief executive Bridget Warr said: "Every guide dog is a winner to their owner, giving them vital independence and freedom.

"However, we wanted to go one step further and recognise some truly special achievements. Arthur and Timber have done just that - they are an extraordinary partnership."