A hen has 'adopted' a litter of puppies and keeps them warm while their mother keeps watch in the yard, a couple in Shrewsbury have observed.

The puppies were born three weeks ago but as soon as their mother, Nettle, left them to go outside, one-year-old white hen Mabel hopped into the dog basket to snuggle up with them.

Pet owners Edward and Ros Tate said they had saved Mabel after a horse trod on her.

Mr Tate said: "Mabel was hatched here about a year ago. She would have gone onto someone's dinner plate but we saved her."

The hen gets cold in winter so the Tates decided to bring her into their house. But when Nettle gave birth to the puppies, Mabel took a shine to them.

"Mabel observed Nettle's behaviour and, as soon as there was a chance, she hopped into the dog basket to roost on the pups," Mr Tate said.

The hen keeps the puppies warm while Nettle prowls around outside.

He said the dogs' mother was perplexed at first but is now "happy to have a helping pair of wings".

But he thought Nettle probably will not return the favour when the hen has her own chicks.