SUPER dog Rufus is so clever he can help his owner switch on the television, lift up the remote control and shut doors.

The four-legged friend is a fully trained helper who is a godsend to Kathryn Fletcher who had to leave her job with Bolton Health Authority after developing repetitive strain injury which affects her hands and limits movement.

The 50-year-old, of Bennett's Lane, Smithills, left her post in 1994 and six years later decided to enlist the help of her dog Rufus in helping her cope with simple daily tasks which were proving difficult because of the RSI.

Mrs Fletcher has spent the past two years training Rufus, who is a Labrador cross, on a Dog Assistance in Disability (Dog Aid) course and he is now fully qualified after passing a gruelling assessment which included 19 tasks.

Rufus, aged 10, can perform many useful jobs and as part of the assessment also had to prove he could behave himself in a restaurant.

Mrs Fletcher carried out the training herself with a monthly visit from a Dog Aid helper who constantly monitored Rufus's progress.

Having become a fully qualified Dog Aid helper, he is now allowed to wear a special coat and accompanies Kathryn everywhere.

Mrs Fletcher said: "I trained Rufus in obedience classes after getting him from the rescue home.

"The Dog Aid training was more demanding, but Rufus really seems to have enjoyed it.

"When I'm out and about, people seem to become much more dog friendly if they see Rufus in his coat and see how he helps me.

"He is a real help for me because he can do so many fiddly things which I struggle with and as he gets older he will still be able to help me." HOME HELP: Kathryn Fletcher and clever dog Rufus