A BOLTON News employee and her dog have found fame after they appeared on an ITV show about fat pets.

Editor's secretary Lisa Schofield and her cocker spaniel Milly have appeared on Fat Pets: Slimmer of the Year, a one-off show about dogs, cats and rabbits who have spent the last six months battling to lose weight.

Mrs Schofield was filmed with Milly at the K9 Swim hydrotherapy centre in Clayton Bridge, Manchester, which has the largest canine swimming and hydrotherapy pool in the north west.

Milly is currently 19 kilos but Mrs Schofield wants to get her down to 16 kilos and takes her to classes at K9 Swim every week.

In the show, Mrs Schofield demonstrates an exercise with Milly, in which she holds her from behind as she paddles across the swimming pool.

She is then seen listening to hydrotherapist and owner of K9 Swim Marti Wood, who explains that, in terms of how much energy dogs use, a five-minute swim is equivalent to a five-mile walk.

Mrs Schofield, aged 38, of Harwood, said: "It was a really fun experience and it was a privilege to be featured on the programme.

"I didn't feel nervous about being on camera, I just got on with it."

Although Milly was not competing against other pets for the slimmer of the year accolade, she was featured on the show to highlight hydrotherapy as an alternative therapy to help dogs lose weight.

Canine hydrotherapy involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment and is aimed at improving general fitness in dogs.

Mrs Schofield said: "I think hydrotherapy is a brilliant alternative for dogs — the fact that Milly can burn off more calories by doing half-an-hour in the pool than she can doing a two-hour walk shows that is definitely effective."

You can watch the episode, which was shown on Friday, January 9, on ITV player.