TV host and dog lover Clare Balding is making a special appearance at a school in Blackburn to talk about her new book "Isle of Dogs".

The book explores the many roles our "best friends" fulfil in our lives and Clare will be sharing her love for dogs when she appears at the Croston Theatre, at Westholme School on Wednesday, November 8.

Although Clare was brought up in a world of horses - her father Toby was one of the country’s top racehorse trainers – from the second she was born she was also surrounded by dogs.

She said: “I have always been fascinated by the impact dogs have on our lives and the way they have shaped Britain across the centuries.

"In my book, I explore the characteristics of our favourite breeds and why we are drawn to them and what they bring out in us.”

During her fact-finding journey across Britain she witnessed dogs performing all kinds of functions sometimes lifesaving, occasionally crime solving and often simply providing companionship to those most in need.

Clare said the dogs that pulled at her heart strings the most were at Dogs for Good – where they were being trained from a very young age right through to the two-year-old dog for a full-time career helping people most in need.

She said: “These dogs can open doors, load a washing machine, call a lift, help someone get dress or undressed, pick up and bring necessary items and most of all sense when a human needs comfort or support when they are anxious.”

While Clare’s travels were able to confirm that we are a nation of dog lovers, she also sadly discovered that we should be aware of the huge numbers of dogs in rescue centres.

She said: “There are more dogs in this situation than ever before in our history. We should be more responsible about where we source our dogs and how to spot irresponsible breeders or puppy farms.

“But, I was pleased to find that more holiday homes, hotels, and restaurants are dog friendly and that more employers are realising the benefit of having dog-friendly workspace as well as schools using dogs to help children with reading or to provide a confidence boost.”

As a student Clare was head girl at the private school she attended but admits she "wasn’t very academic, apart from enjoying English".

After reading English at Cambridge, Clare went on to be a trainee sports reporter at the BBC as well as being a successful amateur jockey which she looked upon as a hobby.

Her radio and TV career took off and since the late 1990s she has worked at seven Olympic and six Paralympic Games and well as multiple Commonwealth Games and Winter Olympics.

Isle Of Dogs, My Canine Adventure Through Britain, by Clare Balding, is published by Ebury Press, and costs £22 from here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/clare-balding-talks-about-isle-of-dogs-my-canine-adventure-through-britain-tickets-726984699807?aff=ebdsoporgprofile