A Bradford councillor visited the city’s Marie Curie Hospice to thank a unique volunteer – China, the dog.

Councillor Ruth Billheimer met China and her owner Brian Hardaker, who have visited the hospice regularly over the last three years as part of its Pets as Therapy programme.

Her late husband Earl was close to the former rescue dog.

She said: “In the last months of his life, my husband Earl was in and out of the Marie Curie hospice for treatment and palliative care. The staff and the volunteers were all excellent, kind and caring without being sentimental or intrusive. But the best volunteer of all was China.”

Anyone interested in volunteering for the Marie Curie Bradford Hospice should contact Lucy Burnett on (01274) 337017 or lucy.burnett@mariecurie.org.uk. For details about Pets as Therapy visit petsastherapy.org.