The nation’s favourite dog who gained worldwide fame after winning Britain’s Got Talent, Pudsey, has died at the age of 11.

Heartbroken owner Ashleigh Butler, who won the ITV talent show along with her faithful pet in 2012, announced the sad news today with the help of her mum, Penny Butler.

Penny said in a statement: “We, as a family, had to make the hardest decision yesterday to let Pudsey go to sleep. We are absolutely devastated and in shock with how quick this has all happened, and our hearts are broken.

“We would have done anything to keep him with us, even for a little longer, but he didn’t have any more time as acute leukemia made us take the heartbreaking decision to end his pain.

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“We so wanted to bring him home to the place where he was born and lived his whole life, but he was too ill to make the journey home from Davies vets.

“All five of us were with him when we said goodbye, and he was looking into Ashleigh’s eyes as he went.

“This is going to take us forever to get over, as he meant everything to us. We just can’t believe we won’t see his big brown eyes again.

“Night night, Pud Pud. You gave us everything and wanted so little in return, just to be loved by Ashleigh and to spend your time doing the things you loved - agility, dancing and showing off.

“You were our special boy, and truly a dog of a lifetime. Sleep tight little man. Come and rest your head on our legs once in a while. Xxx.”