AN emaciated, pregnant dog who was close to death has been nursed back to health and is ready for a new home - and so are her puppies.

Victorian bulldog Molly - whose ribcage was showing because she was so thin - was found collapsed by a man in his garden in Allerton.

Now, after being looked after by the RSPCA, Molly and her two puppies - Berkeley and Winston - are ready for a new home.

"Molly was really on her last legs," said Terry Singh, general manager of the Bradford and District RSPCA branch. "We didn't think at the time that she would survive.

"It was absolutely terrible - one of the worst cases we have come across.

"But she has been nursed back to health. All three are up for adoption. They are lovely dogs and nice natured."

He added: "They are very powerful and strong, so we need to make sure they go to a suitable home."

Molly's previous owner, Caroline Marshall, of Eastwick View, Allerton, was given a five-year ban from keeping animals and a community order with electronic monitoring by Bradford magistrates last week.

RSPCA inspector Sarah Bagley said: "This is a great result for Molly and her puppies, who were lucky to survive."

Contact the RSPCA on (01274) 723063.