With only three legs she isn't the most orthodox of beauties, but whippet-cross Kati scooped top prize in a prestigious dog show.

The golden saluki/whippet cross, who lost her leg in an accident when she was 15 months old, beat thousands of able-bodied dogs to take the title at the Scruffts dog competition in London.

The eight-year-old is enjoying her place in the limelight now but six years ago it was a different story.

People laughed when Daphne Greenall entered disabled Kati in her first show and some even denounced it as sick.

In 1995, Kati won first prize at Britain's first disabled dogs' show in Eastbourne, which was described at the time by leading canine columnist Peggy Grayson, of Dog World, as a "Victorian freak show".

But six years later, Kati has proved her critics wrong by scooping the title of overall winner at the national finals of Scruffts, which is the equivalent of Cruft's for cross-breed dogs.

Kati was chosen first as the winner of the rescue dogs class and then as the overall champion of the contest, which is endorsed by the Kennel Club.

The dog and her proud owner were presented with a trophy by Royle Family actor and dog lover Ricky Tomlinson.

Mrs Greenall, 69, of Willingdon Road, Eastbourne, chose Kati from a rescue centre about seven years ago when the young dog was in a bad way after being thrown into the street by an uncaring owner.

She was run over by a lorry and had to have her leg amputated.

She said: "When I first entered her in a disabled dog show people said I was sick and it was a freak show. Now my gorgeous Kati has proved them all wrong. I am so proud of her."

First Mrs Greenall entered Kati in a regional heat with 80 other dogs at Shoreham Dog Show.

Victory gained her a her place at the prestigious Scruffts national finals at the Olympia Exhibition Eentre in London.

Mrs Greenall said: "She was so popular with everybody and they made such a fuss of her. It was wonderful.

"She was the only disabled dog I know of in the competition but it was not the sympathy vote which made her win.

"When I walk down the street with her hardly anyone notices her leg because they are too busy looking at her pretty face."