Deedee the whippet takes top dog at Crufts

A FOUR-YEAR-OLD whippet named Deedee last night beat off stiff competition to take the Best in Show title at Crufts 2004.

Deedee, whose show name is Cobyco Call The Tune, took the top slot at the climax of the 101st show at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

Best in Show runner-up was a Scottish terrier called Puzzle, owned by Jane Miller of Bracknell, Berkshire.

Winners of the gun dog, hound, pastoral, terrier, toy, utility and working categories competed for the Best in Show title in the main ring.

Last night's judging was briefly delayed when four animal rights protesters jumped the hoardings, bearing banners which read "stop IAMS animal tests". They were marshalled out of the ring by stewards to boos from the crowd.

Deedee, on the other hand, received huge applause from the hundreds assembled for tonight's competition which came at the end of the four-day extravaganza.

Deedee's owner Lynn Yacoby-Wright of Mellor, Stockport, said she was "delighted and surprised" to have won.

More than 21,600 canines and their owners took part in this year's Crufts the largest dog show in the world.