SHONA Foster will be thinking of her father as she enters Crufts this year.

Mother-of-two Shona, 29, of McCluskeys Street, Colchester, used to compete at Crufts with her dad, Terry Pagani.

However, she stopped eight years ago after he died from cancer on New Year's Eve.

She said: “I lost touch with the dog world, but a year ago I decided to get back into it. It is emotional. It is for my dad.

“He brought me in to it. It is something we shared. It is something lovely to remember him by.”

Shona hopes her 16-month old miniature pincher, Fury, will win the hearts of the judges.

She said: “It is quite a hard world to get into. When I started, I wanted it to be a bit of fun. But nowFury has done so well, the pressure is on.

“I’m impressed by him, especially because he’s such a spoilt pooch at home. He is like a robot in the ring.”

Read the full story in today's Gazette.