THE winners of The Press’s Pet Icon competition have expressed their delight at having readers vote their pets the most popular in York.

More than 360 readers entered their pets into The Press’s annual Pet Icon competition, and all were published in a special photo supplement.

Readers then voted by phone and text message to pick their favourite.

Kate Ford, 32, a shop manager from Wigginton, was delighted to win the main prize of a year’s supply of food from sponsor Thompsons Food Store for her 13-year-old cat, Sheiyka.

Kate said: “She’s the most grumpy cantankerous thing you have ever met in your life. She was rescued from a farm as a kitten because she was going to be put in a sack in the river.

“It’s absolutely brilliant to win. I’m completely shocked. She’s been part of my life for 13 years. She may be grumpy, but she’s still got something in her that everybody seems to love.”

Kate, who has four cats, said the year’s supply of food would come in very useful, although she will keep only half and will donate the other half to the York Cats Protection League.

Jenna Jarvis, 27, of Grosvenor Terrace, entered her dog, Mylo, which was runner-up, along with puppy Lex, whose owner is Tracey Cormack, 45, of Acomb.

They both won prizes of £50 vouchers to spend at Thompsons Country Store. Jenna, who works at York Racecourse, said she was thrilled Mylo, who is two years and two months old, was second in the competition.

“She’s a fun, active and gorgeous dog,” she said.

Tracey said her five-month-old pup was a hit with the kids in the local area.

“She’s wild. All the kids shout for her as they go past and she’s very loving with kids and other people.

“There were so many dogs in the competition and so many lovely pictures, I’m over the moon,” she said.