Rocky the labrador has a last-minute place in the final three of a nationwide contest for talented pets.

The three-year-old found himself in the top slot after Frankie the ferret, a previous finalist, died of heart trouble.

Undeterred by just a few hours' notice Rocky, who lives near Uckfield, stepped in to the breach and performed his repertoire of tricks live on GMTV's Pet Idol on Tuesday.

Today voting lines were due to open - like television show Pop Idol, the public can vote for their favourite act by telephone.

The winner will be announced live on GMTV tomorrow.

Alongside Rocky are fellow Sussex pet Merlin the African grey parrot, owned Pip Rowe, from Brighton, who strutted his stuff live on the show on Monday, and Mercy, an Irish terrier who appeared yesterday.

Rocky's owner Heather Loan, 47, said: "It was all very sudden. I didn't even know about the competition until ten days ago.

"A friend called me and asked if I'd entered Rocky, so I sent in a video. I only just made the deadline.

"I got a call at 2pm on Monday to say we were in the final the next day as the poor ferret had died."

Rocky demonstrated his talents in front of presenter Keith Chegwin by talking to fish, selecting a mat and counting spots on a dice by barking.

Other skills include grabbing a handkerchief from Heather's pocket when she sneezes, collecting post from a table and tidying away his toys.

Mrs Loan, of School Lane, Hadlow Down, has trained Rocky since he was a puppy.

She said: "It's all fun stuff. I don't do showing or obedience.

"It creates a close bond between us and is mentally stimulating for him. The tricks are like a game to him.

"Keith Chegwin was great. He was so bubbly. He was even more excited than I was."

Rocky learned his talking to fish gimmick, in which he opens and closes his mouth as though talking, by mistake.

Mother-of-three Mrs Loan said: "I was teaching him to bark and yawn on command. He got bored with it and started opening and closing his mouth to shut me up."

To vote for Rocky telephone 0901 890 0502 or text B to 84070. To vote for Merlin telephone 0901 890 0501 or text A to 84070.