Tango tops Crufts group

Shropshire dog Tango has emerged the winner of her group at Crufts. The Japanese shiba inu, owned by Janice Bannister of Telford, yesterday won the utility group at the show at Birmingham's NEC.

In doing so, Tango put herself in the frame to win the top prize - Best in Show.

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The bitch will now go through to Sunday's grand final, competing against the winners from the six other groups.

Mrs Bannister said today: "It's unbelievable, I'm not used to being in the spotlight like this but I'm elated. The main thing is that we are in the final seven."

Mrs Bannister, 44, could not hide her delight when judges named Tango - kennel name Janeryls In The Line of Fire - the group winner. She celebrated with a lap of honour in the ring.

Tango's win came amid controversy in the utility group after bookmakers William Hill suspended betting on which category the Best in Show would come from - with an unusual number of bets being placed on the previously unfancied utility group.

But last night Mrs Bannister said she hadn't heard anything about suspected betting irregularities. She added: "I think it would be virtually impossible for anyone to predict who the Best in Show will be."