THE ROLE of animals in world conflicts is celebrated in a new exhibition at the Imperial War Museum.

The exhibition, formally opened by the author Jilly Cooper, explores the role of animals in conflict from the First World War to the present day.

Amongst those celebrated was the work of Jake, an explosives-sniffing dog who cleared a path for rescuers after the July 7 bus bombing in Tavistock Square last year.

Buster, a Royal Army Veterinary Corps search dog, was there to receive a PDSA Dickin Medal for locating a hidden cache of arms, explosives and bomb-making equipment in Iraq in March 2003.

Also attending the launch were the well-known man and dog partnership of Assistance dog Endal and 1991 Gulf War Veteran Allen Parton.

Pictured below is Jilly Cooper with some of the honoured guests at the launch of the exhibition last month.