Dog gets place of honour at courtroom send-off for judge

A dog took centre stage in a courtroom as one of England's most famous High Court judges retired.

Senior members of the judiciary and lawyers gathered on Wednesday to pay tribute to Mrs Justice Mary Hogg at a ceremony in courtroom number four at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

And the judge's Norfolk Terrier, Mr Chough, was in court - sitting alongside a clerk at the front of the courtroom.

Mrs Justice Hogg, 69, is stepping down after spending more than 20 years as a judge in the Family Division of the High Court.

She is a member of one of Britain's most famous legal families and one of the longest-serving High Court judges in England and Wales.

Her father and grandfather, both titled Lord Hailsham, both served as Lord Chancellor. Her brother is former Conservative minister Douglas Hogg.

Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division of the High Court - and the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, led tributes to Mrs Justice Hogg at Wednesday's ceremony.

He also said Mrs Justice Hogg was known for her "canine companions" and mentioned Mr Chough in a speech.

Mr Chough regularly accompanied Mrs Justice Hogg to her office at the Royal Courts of Justice.