A Bernese Mountain dog who spends his Christmases pulling Santa’s sleigh has nabbed second prize in the annual Crufts competition.

First-timer Bear came second in the post-graduate dog class at the weekend.

The three-year-old from Berrylands came with brother Tolly and mum Ruby who is a Crufts veteran, but he took the glory.

Proud owner Jean Hellingsworth, 68, of Elmbridge Avenue in Berrylands, said: “Bear did me proud. He is the winner in my eyes. I was absolutely thrilled.

“He liked all the other dogs – especially the girls. He had a lot of friends there. We stayed in a hotel and he went up and down in the lift and travelled on the bus. He had quite an adventure.

“He slept very well when we got home. We had a fabulous time.”

New Malden residents Karen Johnson and her partner Declan McArdle won fifth place with their bullmastiff Gabby in another category.