TWO inseparable elderly dogs who faced an uncertain future after losing their owners have found a new home for Christmas.

Rollo and Bess, were being looked after by the National Animal Sanctuary Support League's branch near Darlington, after one of their owners died and the other went into residential care.

Rollo, an 11-year-old roughhaired terrier, and nine-yearold Bess, who resembles a miniature labrador, became inseparable after losing their owners. Staff at the sanctuary refused to part the dogs.

But following an appeal in The Northern Echo, a new home has been found for them and they are settling in well.

Peter and Pat Bartley, who live in Lunedale, in Teesdale, County Durham, offered to adopt the dogs after reading of their plight.

Mr Bartley said: "We've always had dogs and we had an elderly English setter who sadly passed away through old age in the summer.

"We had it in mind to get another dog and we've always got our dogs through rescue centres so when we read about these two we thought it would be a good idea.

"Our only concern was that we've got horses, sheep and chickens here, and we needed to know what they would be like around those. But they've settled in very well.

"They both love being outside and playing in the open spaces."