THERE were smiles - and no short amount of barking - all round, when the winners of The Journal's Pets on Parade competition were handed their prizes.The victors and runners-up got together to share their delight at being chosen top of the pets with their cute and cuddlesome four-legged friends and felines.

THERE were smiles - and no short amount of barking - all round, when the winners of The Journal's Pets on Parade competition were handed their prizes.

The victors and runners-up got together to share their delight at being chosen top of the pets with their cute and cuddlesome four-legged friends and felines.

The only thing missing was the cats, but that may have been a blessing in disguise as the two sets of animals are not known to be the best of friends.

However, top dog Bungle, a gorgeous ginger toy poodle, owned by Doreen Driscoll, was quick to make friends with doleful runner-up Freada, Julie Smith's basset hound, and third-placed Misty, a bouncing old English sheepdog owned by Sandra LeGood.

They were joined at Picture Studios, in London Road North, Lowestoft, by number one cat owner Mandy Royal, who had left her winning one-eyed pet Wally in the car in his basket.

More than 700 animal lovers voted for their favourite feline and canine in the annual competition run in The Journal and supported by the photographic company.

The two adorable animals beat competition from 96 other dogs and 20 other cats to win some top prizes for their owners which were presented by Lowestoft Carnival Queen attendant Laura Foster, who was also joined by photographers Amy Gook and Charlotte Philp from the studio.

Bungle and Wally's owners both received a 20in x 16in framed portrait by Picture Studios, a personalised porcelain birth tablet including a photograph name and date of birth courtesy of Lowestoft Porcelain and a personalised dog and cat bowl from the Paint and Create company, who are both based in Battery Green Road, Lowestoft.

Coming in second were British short hair silver tabby Tilly, owned by Louise Roberts, and Freada. They each received a 10in x 8in framed portrait and personalised bone china mug.

In third place were Bengal cross cat Leo, owned by Katie Cook, and Misty, who won a 7in x 5in framed portrait.

A delighted Doreen, of Chaukers Crescent, Lowestoft, said: “There were so many great dogs to choose from in the competition and it's fantastic to be the winner.”

And she said that Bungle got his name from her daughter Kim, a former Lowestoft Carnival Queen, from the children's TV series Rainbow.

And Doreen revealed that he's become a bit of a favourite along the seafront, spending time with the family at their beach hut.

Meanwhile, Julie told how Wally, now 16, has become part of their extended family as they also have two other cats and a dog.

Like his other animal housemates the top cat was picked up as a stray after being found in a scrap metal yard.

“The next morning I could see something was wrong so took him to the vet. It turned out there was some metal in his eye and it had to be removed,” she said.