Star Angie Best supports Shropshire police dog handler in fight to keep Ivy

Sergeant David Evans, of Market Drayton, has been told by West Mercia Police that he will not be allowed to keep four-year-old Ivy when he retires from West Mercia Police.

Now Angie Best, known as the first wife of footballer George Best, has urged people to sign a petition set up to allow Ivy to stay with her owner.

She tweeted: "Of course she should stay, sign please."

It comes after more than 123,000 people have now signed the online petition, which was set up by Sergeant Evans's daughter Jennie.

Jennie said: "We just want to say, thank you again, to you, for your support.

"If you weren't supporting us in this way, we wouldn't get anywhere at all.

"One hundred thousands people telling the world how you feel about this, means that the people at the top will listen to us, and hopefully overrule Chief Constable Anthony Bangham's decision.

"I can't describe what you all mean to me, for what you're doing for my Dad and Ivy. Thank you from the very bottom of our hearts."

MP for North Shropshire Owen Paterson said he has also received hundreds of emails from all over the world about the situation.

Mr Paterson has forwarded letters and comments from constituents on to Superintendent Jason Wells of West Mercia Constabulary's Shropshire division to ask for his comments.

Chief Constable Bangham previously said although the animals live with their handlers they are not family pets and that the force has an obligation to spend its public funds wisely.

See the petition at change.org/p/west-mercia-police-help-police-dog-ivy-stay-with-her-beloved-dog-handler