A HEROIC three-legged dog from the Borders will continue promoting road safety despite his death earlier this year.

Springer spaniel Jon became well known in schools and nurseries across the region for fronting up campaigns to protect children near carriageways.

As a victim of a road accident himself, Jon's safety messages resonated with pupils.

Along with his adopted owner, retired police officer Sheena Chappell, he was also a popular visitor in many local nursing homes.

Jon was put to sleep in January but Sheena is keeping his spirit alive by donating a shield for road safety projects in local schools.

Sheena told us: "I had to make the heart breaking decision to put Jon to sleep and I was totally devastated.

"To help, I decided that I would donate the Jon Chappell Memorial Shield to Scottish Borders Council to be awarded, annually, to one primary school in the Borders.

"I just hope that by donating the shield I can somehow continue to help keep children in the Borders safe on the roads and that the memory of Jon and his message will stay with the kids through this part of the campaign."

As a puppy Jon was knocked down near to his Rutherglen home and suffered a broken front leg.

When he was 18 months old the repaired break became damaged and it was feared his leg would require amputation.

His owners at the time opted to have him put to sleep.

But in stepped the Dog Aid Society of Scotland who paid for his operation, took on his future care and the responsibility of rehoming him.

Sheena, who is a volunteer and fundraiser at the Arthurshiel Rescue Centre near St Boswells, was asked if she would foster Jon during his recovery.

It was the start of a friendship which was to last the rest of the spaniel's life in the village of Bowden.

Sheena explained: "I brought him home on a Tuesday and by the Friday I was signing the necessary papers to officially adopt him as my own dog, a decision I have never regretted.

"Jon was a happy, healthy, loving dog with a superb temperament, he was almost as active as any four- legged springer, in fact when people who did not know us saw him running in long grass or swimming, they were amazed when he emerged with only three legs.

"Jon always appeared to love children and I have none so this gave me the idea of teaming his disability with the fact that I am a retired police officer and taking him to schools, nurseries and playgroups to talk to the children about road safety.

"Needless to say I did most of the talking and he lay there looking cute which he was very good at however, the children got the message due to the visible consequence of Jon’s failure to stop, look and listen, and they rarely forgot this after his visit.

"Children still come up to me in various places and ask about Jon the dog."

Due to age related issues Jon was put to sleep at the start of the year

But his days of keeping children safe on our roads are far from done.

Sheena added: "The decision for what exactly the shield will be awarded for has, as yet, to be made, but hopefully it will be decided at a meeting with council officials and Police Scotland next month."