THE winner of the Daily Echo Pet Idol Competition 2006 is Rio the three-year-old long-haired border collie. He dazzled judges with his good looks and canine charm.

He beat stiff competition from a wide range of pets, including cats, rabbits, hamsters and even a snail.

Rio was joined by his ten-year-old owner Gaby White, of Hedge End, and her mum and dad at the presentation held at Totton's Creature Comforts and Aquatic Centre, which jointly ran the contest.

Gaby, a pupil at St Winifred's School Southampton, entered Rio because she thought he was "extremely handsome".

As well as being crowned Pet Idol, Rio has won a 20x24 inch framed print, a Daily Echo silver bowl, a certificate and a year's supply of pet food. Jo Richardson, Echo promotions executive and one of five judges said: "Rio's character came out even more than it did in the photo we used to judge him."

Over ten weeks, owners entered their pets in the competition by having photographs taken at the Reginald Harris photographic studio at Hill Lane, Southampton

Pictures of all the entrants were published in a special Daily Echo supplement and the tough task of creating a shortlist was handed over to the readers who then voted for their favourite.