BBC South Today presenter Sally Taylor knew she could always rely on one faithful friend during her darkest days.

Her beloved dog Bertie never strayed from her side when Sally was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy five years ago.

The enormous otter hound was a celebrity in its own right after making countless TV appearances at her side and often received more fan mail than Sally herself.

But the popular news presenter has had to take the heartbreaking decision to bid Bertie farewell.

Increasingly poor health meant the 12-year-old dog had to be put down by a vet at Sally's home near Winchester, but not before Bertie had enjoyed a final meal which included a pound of steak and lots of cookies.

"He was a constant companion and such a great comfort through some of the things I have been through," Sally told the Daily Echo.

"I think he sensed things were happening because he spent a lot more time beside me then than at any other time. He was always there for me and the house is very lonely without him."

Sally chose Bertie as a 12-week-old puppy after initially going to collect another one from some friends in Ringwood.

Bertie used to appear alongside Sally on a series called Out and About and various location reports on the early evening news programme BBC South Today.

Sally said: "At the end of the day I am not sure who was presenting alongside who - he was more of the boss. Everywhere we went people just loved him.

"He got lots of fan mail, letters and even photos from other dogs, which I always found very strange.

"I will always remember one incident in Portsmouth when I was doing a piece to camera sat on a fountain. Bertie got fed up and pulled me right off. He didn't like me doing more than one take."

In the last few months of his life, Bertie found it increasingly difficult to walk and Sally made the difficult decision to put him down.

Devoted animal lover Sally added: "He was still eating, drinking and barking as normal but life was a struggle for him at the very end. I will have another dog but not now. He was so unique."