A BELOVED dog who was left in the hands of a care home by his elderly owner has been saved from bankruptcy - after locals raised £5,000 to keep him.

War veteran Harold Pursey adored his trusty black labrador Bob and staff at Burnham Lodge agreed to adopt him when his owner died of heart failure in 2010.

Devoted Harold left his final £666 to set up a trust fund to pay for Bob's on-going care but the elderly pet has required medical treatment for his stiff joints and racked up big medical bills on acupuncture, hydrotherapy and canine massage.

His trust fund was running low so staff and locals started raising money with fundraising events such as wing walks, raffles and sponsored challenges.

The latest event, a fishing competition, raised a staggering £2,000 - ensuring 13-year-old Bob can continue to live in the lap of luxury.

Judith Alder, who now looks after Bob at the home in Burnham, said: "We are chuffed to bits, it was absolutely fantastic, we had no idea we would raise that much.

"There was such a huge response to Bob, everybody adores him, we are almost speechless at how much we managed to raise.

"Bob is so lovely and just did what he needed to do, he knew when to turn on the charm."

Retired butcher Mr Pursey, of Burnham, served with the 12th Lancers tank regiment in France, Belgium and Germany during the Second World War.

The lifelong bachelor needed to go into residential care in June 2009 after his health deteriorated due to old age and Lymphedema in his legs.

But he refused to go into a home without Bob, who had been his only companion since getting him as a puppy 10 years earlier.

Social worker Judith believed that separating him from the dog "would have killed" him and set about finding a residential home that would take them both.

After a lengthy search the pair settled into Burnham Lodge and Bob became an instant favourite with residents.

Staff began undertaking fundraising challenges, with Judith and the home's matron Soriaya Mandiga raising #1,500 with a sponsored wingwalk.

Last weekend a fishing competition at Northam Farm in Burnham raised a further £2,000 bringing the total estimated cash raised for Bob to £5,000.

Judith added: "The thing is Bob is getting a bit old and he needs a lot of different things to help him. The poor lad has had his health issues.

“It is all maintenance though. He had pain killing joint relaxant at £50 a time, his ears need cleaning at £15 monthly, he has joint aid at £70 a month as well.

"The treatment is worth it though, he will have what he wants and needs because everybody loves him and he puts a smile on everybody's faces, he is very therapeutic.”