When Karen Hudson saw Ben on a springer spaniel adoption website, it was love at first sight.

Despite having just three legs since he was a puppy, Ben did not let his disability get in his way.

When he was diagnosed with severe arthritis at 11, however, Ben's life was at stake.

Determined not to loose her faithful friend, Ms Hudson found a special solution on the internet - a front-wheel harness.

"I'd seen carts before but never front-wheel," she said.

"I looked online and I saw this picture of a collie dog with a front-wheel cart and he was in mid-air on a forest track. As soon as I saw it I thought that's just what we need for Ben."

Ben lost his front left leg when he was just a five-month-old puppy during a fight with another dog.

The cart has now given Ben his freedom back and, with his rear legs doing the steering and a little bit of getting used to it, he can walk, run and even play with his trusty tennis ball.

"The wheels have given him a completely new lease of life, he can go out for big long walks now," Ms Hudson said.

"He may not still be with us if it wasn't for the wheels. So it's given him a quality of life he didn't have before."

It is thought Ben is the only dog in the UK to have so called "front-wheel drive".

Ms Hudson says she would love to meet any four-legged friends who have also made use of a front-wheel cart.

Additional reporting by Oliver Dickinson.