A PUB in Little Wakering has come up with a doggy menu in an effort to attract more canines and their owners in for dinner.

The Castle Inn offers the likes of scrambled eggs with ham, chicken and rice, roast beef with peas and carrots, and even sausage and bacon pasta.

Tanya Chapman, coowner of the pub, came up with the idea and says it has proved really popular.

She said: “We’ve always been a dog friendly pub, but we still got people asking if they were welcome here.

“Wedowholesome, homemade food for humans, so we thought, why not do it for dogs as well?

“It has created a bit of a buzz and we’ve certainly had plenty of clean plates, it especially seems popular when people come in for a Sunday roast.

“I looked into getting dog beer in as well, but apparently you can’t get it in the UK.”

Tanya owns the pub with her sister Lisa and hopes they have cornered the market in mutt meals.

Tanya added: “It is a competitive market, but I think we’re the first people in Essex to do something like this.

“You can do good beer, good food and be family friendly, but you need something to stand out.

“We’ve had people come in without their dogs, see the sign up behind the bar and then come back again with their pet, so it’s going well so far.”

Jo McPherson, Rochford district councillor responsible for community, lives nearby and praised the Chapmans for their idea.

She said: “I have two dogs and when I saw the sign behind the bar I was really interested.

“It’s healthy food for the dogs too, not just scraps or leftovers from other meals.

“It’s great to offer the option to walkers in the area, for them to know that they can go for a walk and find somewhere to eat, not just for them but their dog as well.”