WHEN a Carlton Colville couple made a telephone call to an award-winning national television show they never thought it would lead to a new arrival.But more than two weeks after Stephen Prynne and Jackie Osborn first called Channel 4's Paul O'Grady comedy chat show and applied to look after a puppy, they have since beaten off competition from others across the country to be been united with a new collie cross pup after being selected as the new owners.

WHEN a Carlton Colville couple made a telephone call to an award-winning national television show they never thought it would lead to a new arrival.

But more than two weeks after Stephen Prynne and Jackie Osborn first called Channel 4's Paul O'Grady comedy chat show and applied to look after a puppy, they have since beaten off competition from others across the country to be been united with a new collie cross pup after being selected as the new owners.

The weekday teatime show, which has regular features about offering dogs for rehoming, captured Mr Prynne's attention.

'We rang up just on the off chance, but didn't think we had any real hope,' Mr Prynne told The Journal.

The couple had to answer a series of questions, including one about their views about neutering and the associated costs, as well as supplying photographs of their house and garden to show that it was a suitable venue for rehoming.

They also had to provide a reference, and having previously owned another collie called Sindy the local dog parlour Head and Tails, which looked after the couple's former pet, helped out.

The couple were also questioned about their lifestyle and asked if the puppy would be left on her own. But after fulfilling all the criteria, they received the welcome news that they'd been successful and Stephen had to travel to Bourne, in Lincolnshire, to pick up the puppy from a woman who was her foster carer.

'I lost another collie dog called Sindy a year ago, but it was time for me to look after a pet again,' Mr Prynne said.

When the puppy appeared on the Paul O'Grady show she was called Curly, but Stephen and Jackie have renamed her Poppy.

Poppy is now nine weeks old and is now getting used to her new surroundings.

'She likes to go into the garden and for walks round the housing estate,' Mr Prynne said. Poppy will soon be taken to be microchipped and registered as she loves her new environment.