A pet adopted by a family less than a year ago has become a hero by alerting them to a gas leak.

Dixie the labrador-cross alerted Jackie Foster, 35, and partner Wayne Newell, 39, to the leak at their home in Lordswood.

Jackie awoke at 5am last Friday because Dixie was tugging at her feet at the end of the bed.

She said: “He was going mad. I thought it was strange because usually he will just lick my hand to wake me but he seemed determined to get my attention.

“I thought he needed to go out, so I got up. As soon as I opened the bedroom door the smell of gas hit me.

“I immediately opened all the doors and windows and called the emergency gas services.”

Less than half an hour later a gas engineer arrived at Jackie and Wayne’s home in Bromley Close and discovered the leak.

Gas had been seeping in from a dislodged pipe outside; filtering through the brickwork and filled their terraced home.

The worst area was at the front of the house, where Jackie’s son Samuel, 15, had been sleeping. Wayne’s son Logan, five, was also asleep in the house.

Wayne said: “If Dixie hadn’t woken us up, we wouldn’t have got up for several hours and gas would have continued to build up inside the house.”

Jackie and Wayne adopted Dixie after reading an appeal in the Medway Messenger. Dixie was born in December 2007 at Jasmill Kennels in Lower Halstow. His mother was found on the streets of Sheerness heavily pregnant.

Jackie said: “I dread to think what would have happened if Dixie hadn’t woken us up. He will be getting lots of extra treats and bones.”