Crufts 2016: West Highland Terrier 'Geordie Girl' wins Best in Show

Ant and Dec tweeted their congratulations to the winner, who is two years old and also known as 'Devon'

Handler Marie Burns (unseen) shows Devon, the West Highland White Terrier, after winning Best in Show on the final day of the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham, Britain March 13, 2016 (Reuters)

A West Highland Terrier has claimed the top prize at Crufts for the first time in 26 years at the annual dog show.

Devon was named Best In Show at the competition, an achievement described as "absolutely amazing" by her owner.

More than 22,000 dogs took part in the four-day event at the NEC in Birmingham as the competition celebrated its 125th year.

White Westie Devon beat off stiff competition from six other dogs in the final, screened live on Channel Four, to be crowned the overall winner on Sunday evening.

Devon the West Highland Terrier with handler Marie Burns who has been named Best in Show at Crufts 2016 at the NEC, Birmingham (PA)

The champion dog's owner Marie Burns said she knew Devon was special from an early age as she told presenter Clare Balding she had said to a friend when the puppy was just eight or nine weeks old: "I think I've got the nicest Westie I've ever bred here."

On the victory itself, Ms Burns, from County Durham, added: "To win Best In Show at Crufts is absolutely amazing."

Ant and Dec tweeted their congratulations to the winner, who is also known as Geordie Girl and is almost two years old.

The presenting duo from Newcastle wrote: "Told you!!! Yess, Geordie Girl wins Best in Show! Yay #GeordieGirl! What a belter!"

Hazel the Whippet was the runner-up, alongside her owner Charlie Donaldson from Middlebie, Dumfriesshire.

The 19-year-old, the youngest handler in Best In Show, said: "Words can't describe how much this means. I'm so proud."

Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: "This has been a fantastic year and a wonderful final, and it's clear to see why, for 125 years, Crufts has been one of the major British events."

PA