AN ESSEX RSPCA inspector has had her hard work recognised after being featured in a TV show.

Inspector for Essex, Marie Hammerton, featured in episode eight from the new season of the Dog Rescuers, which was broadcast on Channel 5 on Tuesday evening.

Ms Hammerton was previously a prison officer for three years before turning her hand to caring for animals in 2014.

She said her life has always revolved around animals and she dreamt of be - ing an RSPCA inspector ever since she was a little girl with the hope of being able to rescue animals from desperate situations.

She got her wish in February when a pensioner in Boreham found a little Husky-German Shepherd cross in a cage and covered in excrement.

The puppy, Willow, was distressed and crying when she was found and Ms Hammerton quickly took her into the vets.

With no microchip and the pensioner having no idea who dumped her or why, Willow was cared for by the RSPCA before being rehomed.

Ms Hammerton said: “I am so pleased that Willow has now found her forever home and had the happy ending she deserves.

“It was wonderful seeing her looking so content when we filmed for the Dog Rescuers – a world away from when I first saw her in that horrid cage.

“This is the sort of transformation which makes the job worthwhile.”

The show, hosted by Alan Davies, is in its fourth series and features differ - ent faces of the RSPCA as they work against animal cruelty and neglect of dogs.

The series focuses on rescues, rehabilitations and rehoming as well as telling the story of rescuing four dogs from a dangerously overcrowded house, and a medical detection dog that is trained to hear heart arrhythmia.