Cheeky Mario does his filthy best

OOPS: Three-year-old Cavapoo Mario was caught in the act

DON’T be fooled by Mario’s innocent face - his muddy paws tell a different story.

Mario, who lives with owner Angela Farrey in Chadderton, was caught completely covered in soil destroying her favourite plant.

And this and other canine antics led to the three-year-old cavapoo - a mini-poodle, King Charles spaniel cross - reaching the finals of a competition to find the nation’s messiest pets.

The photograph of the guilty pooch was one of hundreds of competition entries in a Topps Tiles search for pet chaos, which turned up everything from a door-destroying dog to a parrot in a sieve full of flour.

Angela (52) said: “I was thrilled that Mario came third in the competition. He’s a real character. He’ll walk in with soil all over him, but I forgive him.”