A Newcastle couple keep the memory of their beloved dogs alive - after turning their hair into woolly jumpers.

Brian and Beth Willis had his and hers jumpers knitted out of the hair moulted by the pedigree pets and spun into yarn.

The first jumper was knitted by 71-year-old Mrs Willis from hair from Kara, the couple's white Samoyed, a Russian breed.

Mrs Willis said: "It is not actually a hair but a wool, which is why it is so good for clothes. It would just fall off the dogs and I would run a wet hand over the carpet and pick it up.

"We found out from the breeders we got the pups from that it was possible to use their coat for clothes. Apparently it is quite popular with lots of the people who breed long-haired dogs."

That first jumper was made in 1990, while Kara was still alive. Although she died 12 years ago, the jumper made from her hair is still going strong.

By the time the Newcastle couple's next dog, a Swedish Lapphund called Penny, died six years ago, Mrs Willis was already working on a new garment.

Mr Willis, 73, wears his doggy jumper every Saturday into town to do the weekly shop.

He said: "They are extremely warm and pretty much waterproof. Unless it is banging it down, it is fine. I've always got a sweat on by the time I get from the bus to the shops."

Mr and Mrs Willis send the hair to be spun by Malise Mcguire at her home in Derby. She has been spinning dog wool since 1977.