A rescue dog from Thornton Heath and her owner were crowned best dressed Victorians at the Dashing Dog show in Kensington Palace.

Roxie, a two-year-old rottweiler/labrador cross, also won an award for the best pawformance for her two minute routine of tricks at the event on June 18.

Owner Jenni Chadney, 42, said she started training Roxie to manage her behaviour. “When we rescued her from Battersea Dogs home she was completely unmanageable. The first thing she did was knock us flat on the floor.

“She loves doing tricks and is a natural at learning new things.

“She does twists and spins, weaves through your legs and will go and fetch a tissue for you if you sneeze.

“She also loves taking out the recycling, so we have trained her to do that.

“We are novices and we just enter the silly shows but it is a lot of fun.”

The mum-of one sewed victorian costumes for her and Roxie to enter the show which was held in the Orangery at Kensington Palace.

The rescue dog battled with pedigree pooches at the historic venue competing in seven categories.

The event was inspired by Queen Victoria who spent her childhood at the Palace and loved dressing up her King Charles Spaniel Dash and parading him through the grounds.