THE pet dog that foiled an armed gang's attempt to hold up a Hampshire jewellers was at the centre of champagne celebrations at the weekend.

Jeremy France marked the conviction of the gang who raided his Winchester store twice, with a bottle of bubbly with his wife Sarah.

As reported, Daisy was in the store in December 2006 and began barking relentlessly when the trio burst into the shop on High Street, Winchester, in a bid to carry out their second raid. They had robbed the store and held Mr France at gunpoint on a previous raid in November 2005.

But on their return they got more than they bargained for when Daisy began to bark and Mr France pressed an alarm that immediately filled the premises with smoke.

Elliot Burton, Luke Nash and Simon Waller failed to get away with any goods. During the first raid, when Mr France had a gun held to his head, they had escaped with £200,000 worth of jewels.

Burton, 38, of South Acre Avenue, Birmingham, Nash, 25, of Newlyn Road, Birmingham and Waller, 28, Outwood Drive, Birmingham, were convicted of robbery at Birmingham Crown Court.

Burton was convicted in his absence having absconded while on bail and is now being hunted by police.

Mr France said the conviction of the gang at Birmingham Crown Court last week was a relief, adding: "We have been opening a few bottles of champagne to celebrate."