They are referring to Harry, the eight-year-old Shar Pei, the town's celebrity pooch, who sits in the window of Brace, a ladies' boutique on Montpellier Parade, almost every day watching the world go by.

Sara Lobb, who has owned the shop for two years, said: "He gets quite a big reaction. People take his photograph outside and children seem to love him - they all seem to stop, point and laugh.

"People always come in and ask how much is that doggy in the window and ask me about the breed and if they can stroke him and things. He just seems to make people laugh.

Enchanted

"I'm used to what he looks like but obviously other people aren't!"

Mrs Lobb described Harry as "an angel" in the shop. "He's a bit naughty outside," she laughed.

"If it's sunny he loves to sit in the window - his favourite pastime is watching people sunbathe. When he's not sitting in the window he sits in a little bed under the counter.

"He sometimes gets up and greets people when they come in, it depends how tired he is," she added.

"Most people are enchanted by him so it's not a problem."

Sara said a lot of people knew the shop because of Harry. "That wasn't the purpose it's just he doesn't like being left on his own - he's very spoiled!"