A Brighton man is the owner of the first dog specially-trained to recognise the signs of diabetic coma.

Toby, a three-year-old black Labrador and Great Dane cross, has helped to save his owner's life on numerous occasions.

Toby is owned by Les Charles, who has suffered with diabetes for 38 years.

He receives no warning before going into a hypoglycaemic coma two or three times a week and then needs urgent medical attention.

Mr Charles has a community alarm provided by Brighton and Hove Council's Care Link service.

He is unable to activate the alarm himself but Toby has been trained to recognise the symptoms.

When Mr Charles, of Thorndean Road, Brighton, goes into a coma, Toby presses the button and Care Link calls an ambulance.

It also provides paramedics with the code number to open his front door.

Mr Charles, 52, said: "Toby has saved my life on so many occasions. Since he has been trained as a medical assistance dog I feel so much more confident about life.

"He recognises my symptoms and tries to warn me. When I go into a coma, he immediately raises the alarm.

"Toby is always working, following me around and keeping an eye out for me. He accompanies me everywhere I go.

"Toby is the only member of Moulsecoomb Social Club who doesn't have to pay a membership fee."

Toby was trained by the Support Dogs Charity, which has 87 fully registered and trained alert dogs It took 170 hours to train Toby as a medical assistance dog at a cost of £5,000.

He is the first dog trained for someone with severe hypoglycaemia unawareness.