When Ipswich first couple Bill and Barbara Quinton lost their much-loved Setter Archie just before Christmas, a key member of their family had been lost.

The mayor and mayoress had had Archie for 12 years, and their love of animals had led Mr Quinton to naming the RSPCA as one of his charities during his year of office.

And during a visit to the charity’s animal home at Martlesham just before Christmas, they came across another Archie – this time a Staffie puppy.

They immediately fell for the seven-month-old pup, and at the start of the New Year they were able to take him home with them. He is now getting used to their home in east Ipswich.

Mr Quinton said: “He’s getting used to being here. He’s a lovely lad and is getting used to finding his way around the house.

“We had to be checked out by the RSPCA just like everyone else who offers a home to pet – there’s no special treatment!”

Mrs Quinton said young Archie was filling a gap in their lives. “A few days after we lost our dog, Bill came down in the morning and said the house seemed a bit empty without him rushing up and greeting us in the morning.

“It is wonderful having this new puppy in the house. He’s settling in well and is pretty much house-trained with just a few accidents.”