A besotted dog owner has spent an astounding £5,000 on a birthday party for her beloved pet.

Karen Chamberlain, 52, from Dover splashed out on a glamorous bash for her female bulldog, Lady Lola, to mark the fact she had survived to 10 years old despite being given just five years to live after a devastating house fire in 2005.

The professional dog breeder, who specialises in bulldogs, hired a lavish beach club where Lola sat upon a specially-made throne and dressed in a £150 dress and £100 tiara.

Karen, who has no children, said: "People think I'm mad - I've been called 'barking' more than once - but it's only common sense to me that Lola should have had a tutu and a throne for her birthday, considering her rocky journey in life. She's really like one of my children."

Karen narrowly saved Lola and Lola's puppy Tia from a cloud of toxic smoke which filled her house when a coffee pot melted in an unexplained fire.