A DOG rescued from a 'house of horrors' in Upton is the subject of a TV documentary that will be shown on Tuesday night.

Woody, a crossbreed terrier, was very frightened and badly injured when he was rescued from a house in Upton by the RSPCA last year, along with his brother Paul and parents Patch and Lucy.

They were rescued after concerns were raised about the conditions they lived in.

His story will feature on Channel 5's Dog Rescuers tomorrow at 8pm.

They were rescued by RSPCA inspector Anthony Joynes, who described what he called living conditions inside what he called a 'house of horrors' as 'unbelievable'.

Woody had a broken leg and needed three pins put into his knee joint.

He was adopted by Theresa Heward and her husband from Wallasey.

Theresa said: "He limped a lot when he first came home but now he loves jumping around and running on the beach."

The couple decided to look for another dog after their previous dog of 16 years died. 

Theresa continued: "It was love at first sight. I went into the RSPCA centre for a chat.

"I was looking around and the lady mentioned Woody, he was just laying in a basket behind her.

"I hadn't even noticed him. Then he started wagging his tail.

"I went to work the next day and he was on my mind the whole time.

"I rang up and they said someone else was coming to see him and I panicked.

"But when she called me back to say they didn't want to pursue it I said: 'I do!'"

The couple and their grandchildren when to meet him the following day and soon it was his turn to come home with them.

Woody’s previous owner admitted four offences under the Animal Welfare Act and was disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years, given a curfew order and a 12-month community order.

Inspector Anthony Joynes added: "I've got a few grey hairs and I attribute them to this dog.

"The things he went through, it's such a pleasure to see him being loved properly.

"It's a testament to these dogs that they're very forgiving animals.

"The amount of things he's been through that poor dog - he had pins in his legs and all sorts - so to see him now enjoying the beach and being outside with his owner is really rewarding."

Woody, now aged four, is one of 8,009 dogs rescued by the RSPCA last year - that’s nearly one every hour.

To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals visit www.rspca.org.uk/give or text LOVE to 87023 to give £3 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message).