A homeless hound at Battersea Dogs Home could be one of the loneliest dogs in the UK after spending more than 260 days at the world-famous animal charity and receiving little interest from potential owners.

The average stay for Battersea dogs is just 35 days, but four-year-old lurcher Shadow has stayed more than seven times that, making him the home's current longest serving resident.

Like 46 per cent of dogs at Battersea, Shadow was brought in by his owners in July last year as they could no longer care for him.

Rob Young, head of rehoming at the charity said: "Poor Shadow must feel really unloved as he’s been here for so long and is desperate for a family to call his own.

"He’s such a gorgeous boy and will make a fantastic companion - we just can’t understand why he’s been with us for this length of time.

"Hopefully Shadow’s luck will change soon and someone will fall for his charm.

"Shadow is housetrained, travels well in the car, is very obedient and above all gave his foster parents lots of love and laughter."