WHEN Shaun Chalcraft walks down the aisle tomorrow it won't just be his bride who accompanies him.

For Shaun and his wife-to-be, Belinda Needham, have enlisted the help of an unusual bridesmaid - their dog Sox.

And Sox has been given the full beauty treatment for the special occasion including a wash and scrub, blow-dry and a doggy manicure.

She will then be decked out in ribbons to perform the task at St Andrew's Church in Bishopstone.

But while her appearance might raise a few eyebrows in the congregation, for Shaun and Belinda nothing could be more fitting.

Shaun, 42, said: "She'll be turning up to the church in a Rolls Royce with Belinda and her father, Basil, and she will be walking up the aisle with them.

"I'm crazy about Sox but it was actually Belinda's idea to have her at the church because she loves the dog. We've asked the vicar who will be performing the ceremony and he said it was fine."

Shaun and Belinda will be married at Hove Register Office in Norton Road today before being blessed at the church tomorrow.

Sox, who lives with Shaun in Waterloo Street, Hove, even went to Belinda's hen night at The Bedford Arms last Saturday. The border terrier cross, who enjoys the occasional sip of beer, stayed out all night with the girls.

But Sox won't be joining Shaun and Belinda on their 11-day honeymoon to New York - Shaun is getting a friend to look after her at his flat instead.Shaun bought Sox from a breeder in Henfield when she was just a pup and they have been inseparable ever since. Sox even works alongside her owner as a plasterer's mate - he takes the year-old pooch to work with him every day at the Old Market in Hove.

After a hard day's work, Sox enjoys nothing more than heading down to her local watering hole with Shaun for a drink.

Shaun said: "She is loved at the pub. People there don't really know my name - they say hello to Sox but just know me as the owner."

Church spokesman Canon Will Pratt said: "I don't think you can really call the dog a bridesmaid but I reckon she will be able to catch the bouquet when it's thrown."

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