Shocking news just in… Late last night Barking Mad Billy Bristol, famed local dog-impersonator and controversial winner of this year’s Crufts‘ Best In Show, was injured whilst rehearsing the finale of his latest daring canine act. Mr Barking was practicing jumping through a burning hoop whilst dressed as a poodle when his costume caught fire and as a consequence his wooden-shed collapsed in on him. Fire, air-ambulance and RSPCA crews were quickly on the scene and at first thought the casualty was a real pooch, so good was Mr Bristol’s outfit and pain-induced howling. The crews worked tirelessly to extinguish the blaze and pull the pretend-poodle out from the smouldering shed and after three hours he was free. Unfortunately they failed to save Billy’s realistic costume and his own lustrous hair. He is now recovering in hospital and was well enough this morning to have breakfasted on a big bone and relieved himself against a lamppost outside A&E. I’ll keep you posted on Mr Mad’s recovery as it happens. Christine Batley. Chief Man Dressed As A Poodle Reporter. Beckworth Guardian

(Above) Barking Mad Billy Bristol pictured earlier today before his near-fatal accident