A STAY in hospital is never likely to be enjoyable, but patients on two wards at Taunton's Musgrove Park Hospital are being cheered up - by a couple of four-legged visitors.

Corgi-terrier cross Livvie and lurcher Whin, who have overcome bad experiences themselves, regularly pop along to the hospital to bring a bit of joy to patients at a stressful time.

The canine duo also take along their owner, Jacqui Budd, who signed them up to the Pets as Therapy charity and also accompanies them on visits to Cedar Lodge care home across town.

Mrs Budd, of Kingston Road, Taunton, said: "The patients love them, particularly in Musgrove, because the patients are quite isolated in their beds.

"It encourages them to come into a communal area and to communicate. It brightens their day and improves their mood.

"Livvie knows Cedar Lodge like the back of her paw and makes herself very much at home. She loves everybody and rushes around.

"Whin is a lot calmer and sometimes has a little sleep on the job."

Mrs Budd adopted Livvie, who is about seven and a half years old and is "really funny and a bit of a clown", after she was picked up as a stray in Sedgemoor.

Whin, who is far more "sensible, very gentle and calm" and aged six, was in a frightful state when she was rescued from a puppy farm in Carmarthenshire.

Tamsin Carey, who oversees the Pets as Therapy programme at Musgrove, said: "Our patients love having the dogs coming on to the wards.

"We know that being with animals has a very important therapeutic benefit, and we are hugely grateful to the volunteers who take the time to share their pets with our patients."

A Pets as Therapy spokesman said: "Thousands of people of all ages benefit every week from the visits provided by our volunteer PAT teams, who visit residential homes, hospitals, hospices, schools, day care centres and prisons.

"Volunteers with just a small amount of spare time each week work with their own pets, to bring joy, comfort and companionship to many individuals who appreciate being able to touch and stroke a friendly animal."

The charity is always looking for volunteers - to find out how to apply click here.