A soap opera star has become the latest celebrity to lend her support to us.

Lu Corfield, who plays twin sisters Freya and Lois Wilson on BBC1’s Doctors, visited The Mayhew Animal Home to highlight the number of rescue dogs who need a new home.

She cuddled a range of cute animals including Askey, a three-year-old Terrier cross who was abandoned on a street and 17-month-old Siberian Husky Amaruq, who ended up in the Mayhew after his owner felt she could no longer look after him due to work commitments.

Ms Corfield, the owner of a six-year-old Poodle cross called Norma, said: “There are a frightening amount of dogs needing to be rehomed across the UK and, whilst our rescue centres and shelters are doing a wonderful job, we still need further funding and support. I fell in love with each and every one of the dogs I met, in fact I was very tempted to take all three home!

“They will make the perfect companion to the right owner, they just need to be given a chance.”

Harlesden-based documentary maker Louis Theroux and actress Joanna Lumley have also shown their support for The Mayhew during October’s Dog Adoption Month.