CHIGWELL: It ain’t no Jaguar but every dog can dream

3:18pm Wednesday 25th June 2008

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MEET Hugo, the Great Dane, whose unusual affection for cars has made him a celebrity - for all the wrong reasons.

That's because Hugo, who lives with his owner Wendy MacLeod in Roding Lane, Chigwell, is a car-surfer.

The hound of the daft-ervilles loves nothing more than jumping on some unsuspecting visitor's car - usually the roof - trapping them inside.

According to Mrs MacLeod, Hugo is an effective tool for warding off cold-callers and burglars.

She said: "He's the sort of dog you don't forget when you meet him - he just plonks himself down on your car roof and won't get off. Some of the visitors do mind, but he doesn't pay any notice."

Luckily for most of the visitors Hugo's bark is indeed worse than his bite - and that may be just as well as he could grow to double his current size.

The hefty hound tips the scales at eight stone, but could go up to 12 stone.

Although he is not vicious, Hugo's habit does lead to some guests feeling under siege - specifically Mrs MacLeod's carer Linda McLean who often finds herself unable to park her car nearby.

She said: "It's an absolute nightmare - he's only been doing this for a couple of months and he's already scratched my car, it happens every time."

Mrs McLean, who drives a Vauxhall Astra, said she was now having to take evasive action.

She said: "I'm now having to try and hide my car from him, I pull into the drive and then try and get out of my car quickly, so I can grab hold of him."

She added he was nothing more than a big softie, adding: "He looks like some kind of fearsome giant, but he's really got a heart of gold."

In fact Hugo is so good-natured that Mrs MacLeod is worried that someone will take advantage of him one day.

She said: "He does stay on the cars when they're moving, I've had people try to get him off by starting the cars - it has no effect on him whatsoever.

"I'm concerned that one day someone will just drive off with him on the roof and we'll never see him again!"

Until that day comes however, Hugo is still happiest snoozing on top of whoever's car comes along.