It was doggie heaven for many in Essex this weekend as thousands of dog lovers attended an annual event at a historic park in the county.

The sixth annual Essex Dog Day took place at Crix, the Georgian mansion in Hatfield Peverel, with thousands of families and their four-legged friends raising funds for good causes.

Huge hounds and tiny toy pets led their owners around the competitions and demonstrations with dogs in every size, colour and variety, adding to pedigree aristocrats mixed with colourful crossbreeds.

The top prize, ‘Best in Show’ judged by a panel of judges including the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, was won for the second year running by Serena, a six-year-old greyhound. Owners Margaret and Tony Glass of Shoeburyness got her as a rescue dog from the Retired Greyhound Trust.

Mr Glass said: “We love this show so thought why not give it another go; it was certainly worth it.”

Other classes included the best six legs, the dog judges would most like to take home and the dog most like its owner.

There were also action competitions including the Gun Dog Scurry and Agility classes and demonstrations in the main arena.

Ian Twinley, owner of Crix and chairman of the organising committee said: “It’s great to see so many people here enjoying themselves. But there is a serious purpose too – Essex Dog Day has made over a third of a million pounds for charity since we started it six years ago. All the money raised today goes to The Essex Community Fund. We chose them because they are so skilled in distributing it to Essex charities. ”