A Telford animal lover got a “shock” when she sat down to watch television and realised her dog was giving birth to an unexpected nine puppies – on the ninth of the ninth, 2009.

Trisha Worthington, from Malinslee, was excited about her Staffordshire bull terrier giving birth next week but was alarmed when the three-year-old, called Thai, started giving birth to the first pup as the first whistle blew for Wednesday’s England game.

The 35-year-old was relaxing on her sofa with boyfriend, Gary Jones, aged 24, when she looked through the door and saw water on the floor.

She said: “As we sat down to watch the England game, Thai went outside and I noticed water on the floor and she had actually started giving birth.

“It was quite a shock and I didn’t know there were going to be nine pups.

“This is her second litter. The first time she only had one puppy and we didn’t even know she was pregnant, we just thought she put on some weight.

“But this time I was concerned because they just kept coming. She had the fifth pup just as England scored their fifth goal, which we thought was quite funny.”

But more was to come as the family slept in their beds.

“I thought she had finished giving birth after eight of them so we went to bed.

“The next day we got up and I didn’t want to disturb them so we left her alone, then yesterday, I discovered she actually had nine. We can’t believe it.”

Trisha and Thai are now at home looking after the nine pups.