Five Border Collie pups that hit the headlines after being found abandoned in a cardboard box in Portsmouth are on the way to loving homes - and thanks the publicity their story attracted, as many as 10 dogs from the local council’s kennels have found new homes too.

The badly worm-infested puppies hit the headlines nationally and as far away as Denmark, even featuring on celebrity Sharon Osbourne's TV chat show - and following over 1,000 calls from concerned members of the public they are now in the process of being re-homed, along with several of their fellow residents.

Pet nutrition firm Royal Canin, whose milk formula helped saved the puppies' lives, has donated 105kg of its food for them, and they have also been given life membership by the Keepsafe tagging scheme.

Council kennel assistant Carol Plumbly, who appeared on Sharon's show, said: ‘It was one of the most distressing cases we've had to deal with, but it turned out really well in the end.’