DEVOTED dog lover David Gerrard makes no secret of his passion for man's best friend.

The 70-year-old Stourbridge bus driver is a staunch supporter of Birmingham Dogs Home in Digbeth and regularly raises funds for them.

This year proved no different as David pestered his fellow National Express drivers for donations.

He said: "I wanted to give the dogs a slap-up Christmas dinner.

"Birmingham Dogs Home has been running a donate 30 pence campaign, but I thought we can do much better than that."

Together with mechanic John Greasley, he went round the 374-strong National Express staff based in Pensnett and raised a total of £227.85p.

David added: "I must have some of the best work colleagues in the world. Not only did they all donate, but some of them brought in food as well.

"We had so much food, we had to hire the works van to deliver it all.

"I visit Birmingham Dogs Home on a regular basis and I see the state some of the dogs are in when they are brought to the home - it's heartbreaking.

"The staff are absolutely wonderful and they never put a dog down if they can help it.

"But we all know what happens at Christmas when there'll be more stray or unwanted dogs finding themselves homeless.

"It's something I cannot highlight enough. People must realise dogs are for life."

David, from Amblecote, who has been driving buses for the past 48 years, doesn't restrict his charity campaigning just to Birmingham Dogs Home.

He also raised £1,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support after organising a couple of charity football matches which saw his fellow drivers take on National Express management and West Midlands Police.