Organisers are `Banger out of order'

THE George and Dragon came to the rescue when a slip-up meant that not a sausage was left for deserving dogs at their annual reunion.

Owners of the Burpham pub kindly donated chicken nuggets so that the sausage and spoon race could still go ahead at the Labrador Rescue event on the nearby cricket field.

Organisers were left without the bangers for the fun run after a helper forgot to bring them to Saturday s get-together, but the pub switched on its microwave and came up with the finger-lickin alternative.

It was a very kind gesture by the pub, said Jamie Lee-Judson, founder of Labrador Rescue, which has helped find around 6,000 Labradors new homes since it was set up 25 years ago.

And Saturday s reunion was a double celebration, not just as the silver anniversary of the group, but as an opportunity for the 200-plus grateful owners to congratulate Jamie on her award of the MBE in the New Year Honours, received personally from the Queen in March.

There were more than 100 Labradors at the fun event, too, from as far away as Devon, Somerset and Essex, as well as many from Sussex.

Plans are already well underway for next year s reunion, on September 8, this time starting at 1.30pm, and back at the Burpham cricket field and pavilion.

For more information see the Littlehampton Gazette.