SOPHIE the greyhound will be sporting an eye-catching number this winter as she braves the cold at Bolton's Destitute Animal Shelter.

Antiquated central heating means hundreds of abandoned animals will be wrapping up warm in the special coats made by staff.

Two-year-old Sophie, who has lived at the shelter most of her life, is modelling the prototype as volunteers get busy making more to kit out the entire shelter.

Soon, visitors will see all the dogs and cats wearing the woolly coats, with "I need a home" stitched on the front, to help the animals brave the cold weather.

Tomorrow, the shelter aims to raise enough cash in the town centre to replace the out-dated system.

Volunteers need to collect more than £5,000 after the shelter's heating went on the blink.

Half of the £10,000 needed to update the boilers and pipes has already been collected.

The heating needs to run from the shelter through to the dog kennels, cattery and isolation unit.

Neil Martin, from the shelter, said: "It is freezing when the heating isn't working.

"We use heat lamps where possible, but it is very expensive.

"We've been running this campaign now for the past 12 months, but we've only been able to raise half the amount.

"We really need the heating fixed before the winter, which is approaching fast."