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Pug dog owners are being driven barking mad after a huge litter of puppies took over their home.

Shocked Sarah Robson and her mother Sylvia were astonished when pet pug Belle gave birth to ten tiny puppies - the biggest litter a local vet had ever seen from the small breed.

Such a large litter is very rare, although one of the pups died.

An average female pug gives birth to six puppies but litters are often much smaller.

Sylvia, 64, called Sarah to her home in from Walkergate, Newcastle, when Belle started having the puppies.

But after she had given birth to eight, Sarah left to get some rest.

And then Belle gave birth to two more puppies, leaving Sylvia amazed.

Sarah, 33, and Sylvia were told by vets it was impossible that all puppies would survive.

The mother and daughter had to hand-feed the adorable puppies because mother Belle can't feed all her pups at the same time.

But the rest of the puppies, who have all been given names including Louie, Pixie and Will, have been running riot at their owners' home while tired out Belle looks after her litter.

The tiny pups are still only the size of an adult's hand.

North East pug breeder Kathy Newsome, who is to be a championship show judge at Crufts 2017, said the size of Belle's litter was rare, but not totally unheard of.

She added she has seen litters of that size before but that some puppies often die.

Owner Sylvia has been prepared for the hard work after taking time off her job as a nurse to stay at home and look after the pups.

Sarah added the litter has "taken it out of" Belle who was the daughter of their first pug.

But she said she wouldn't be keeping the puppies.

"One little girl has chosen one of the puppies and called him Bruce. We've got Belle's mother who had her and we kept Belle so that's enough for now."