Parson Russell Terriers Bess and Petra turned lifesavers recently when their owner lay close to death at home.

Paul Walsh collapsed with liver failure at his home in South Yorkshire where he remained for a staggering 10 days before being discovered. His two terriers kept him warm by lying on top of his legs and chest and constantly licking his face to regulate his body temperature in the unheated house.

Bess and Petra, who only had water to keep them going throughout the ordeal, have been proclaimed as heroes by Mr Walsh, who is now recovering in hospital. “The dogs are heroes. The doctors said I would have only survived a few more hours if I hadn’t been found.”