Playful puppies have helped boost the funds of a well-used West Cumbrian charity.

Canines and their companions attending puppy play dates in Cockermouth and Keswick have raised £320 for Hospice at Home West Cumbria while getting together to socialise and having fun.

Naomi Le Voi, the Lakeland Dog Walker, launched puppy play date sessions while on maternity leave to keep her hand in and give people the chance to bring their pups along to meet other dogs.

She said: "We had a lot of people asking to join us on a walk to socialise their puppies and it got complicated so doing this ticked two boxes."

Initially run for free, Naomi, of Allonby, started collecting £2 donations when she returned to work.

The group made its first donation to Lakeland Trailhound Welfare in memory of Naomi's first canine client.

About a year ago, the hospice charity was chosen as the next beneficiary.

Hayley McKay of the charity said: "It's absolutely fantastic that the Lakeland Dog Walker puts these sessions on to socialise dogs and better than that that they chose to support a local charity while doing it.

"We rely on people in the community fundraising for us. We have got to raise over £1 million a year to continue to deliver our services. We wouldn't be able to do it without people fundraising for us."

It is not just the charities that benefit from the sessions, which happen weekly at 10am and alternate between Harris Park in Cockermouth and Fitz Park in Keswick.

The play dates help puppies get used to other dogs, making them more sociable and less fearful when out on walks.

Martin Proctor of Whitehaven heard about the sessions soon after getting cockapoo pup Bella.

He said: "We wouldn't do without it. It's brilliant for Bella.

"She wasn't getting any socialisation before because we don't know anyone else with dogs.

"As soon as she realises where she's coming she starts chirping in the back of the car and as soon as she gets in the park she's running.

"The first one or two sessions we came she was quite reticent and clingy but now she runs around."