The inquisitive boxer dog made headlines in his local newspaper and on the BBC website last Easter when he found a tortoise that had disappeared from home six months previously.

Wilson sniffed out Terrie – a 35-year-old spur-thighed tortoise – whilst walking along the banks of the River Alyn with his owner Rachel Worsnip. She measured 30cm (12in) and weighed 2.5kg (5.5lb).

Rachel’s mum Irene, who has been a Park Agent for 23 years, said: “Wilson started sniffing around excitedly in the undergrowth. Rachel thought it was just a rock before realising it was a tortoise.

“They picked her up and took her to the vet. And not only was she healthy, but she had been microchipped. So the vet contacted her owners to say she’d been found.”

Remarkably, Terrie was found just 200 yards from her home. Irene added: “We were all very proud of Wilson and needless to say the owners of the tortoise were delighted!”

Irene and husband Brian look after Wilson when Rachel is working. When Brian heard the news, he got in touch with their local newspaper the Evening Leader about doing a story.

He said: “I call him ‘Mr Wilson’. And when I spoke to the reporter I forgot to mention that he was a dog. So when he asked Rachel if he could speak to ‘Mr Wilson’, she replied that he couldn’t really come to the phone!

“All of our neighbours read the article and there was even a story on the BBC North Wales website. Now everybody seems to know him when I take him onto the local field. He’s famous.

“He is so friendly and has the best temperament of any dog I’ve ever seen. He’s really playful and lets all of the smaller dogs play with his nose and ears.”