A DISABLED woman says she would be dead if not for her two support dogs who saved her life - by licking her.

Kate Arnett of The Crescent in Colwall, near Malvern, said her two support dogs, black labradors Ernie and Banjo, gave her the 'lick of life' after her oxygen supply was cut off while she slept.

Without them she is convinced she would have been dead before her alarm clock went off the next morning.

The 48-year-old has multiple physical and neurological disabilities including a paralysed diaphragm, making breathing difficult.

The root of her disabilities began 28 years ago when she was hit by a car after it mounted the pavement in York.

Mrs Arnett has Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), also known as Hughes syndrome, a disorder of the immune system that causes an increased risk of blood clots.

Mrs Arnett has suffered strokes and also bleeds due to the anticoagulant drugs used to treat her condition.

She said, in a manner of speaking her Support Dogs had already saved her life, giving her the independence she would otherwise lack, but she never expected they would save her life in such a direct or dramatic fashion.

The dogs have been trained to help her out of bed, open cupboards, bring her the telephone when it rings and even help her to dress.

But she believes it was down to pure instinct and the bond between her and her support dogs that resulted in them saving her life in the early hours of Friday, March 27 after she suffered breathing problems while she was asleep.

Because of her disabilities she needs medical oxygen and has to sleep propped up at a 45 degree angle. She slipped down the bed and her mask has also become detached.

Her husband off 11 years, Gavin, sleeping bedside her did not wake up when she got into difficulties and it was the instincts of her dogs, Ernie, aged 10, and Banjo, two, which saved her.

She said: "To help me have as full and as independent a life as possible, I have been fortunate enough to have a 'hairy carer' in the form of a disability assistance dog provided by Support Dogs.

"At present I am going through a transition phase as Ernie retires after nearly a decades devotion and young Banjo finishes his training (hopefully he will be successful) to take over from Ernie. "Recently I was woken by not one but two tongues frantically licking my face and neck; being nudged by furry muzzles and even biffed by paws.

"I felt utterly dreadful, confused and in a fog with a terrible headache but eventually I realised that not only had I slipped down the bed - I can barely breathe when I am flatter than 45 degrees - but I had lost my oxygen mask too.

"If Ernie and Banjo had not realised the seriousness of the situation in the early hours of the morning I would most probably have slipped away and been dead when the alarm clock went off some hours later."

Mrs Arnett spent three days in bed recovering from the effects of the lack of oxygen to her body.

She said: "I know that Ernie and I are almost as one after so long together, but Banjo is a sensitive, brave young dog who has already forged a strong bond with me.

"Ernie and Banjo are firm friends too - which helps Ernie hand over his work to Banjo as he snoozes in the sun.

"Having a Support Dog has enabled me to continue my hobbies including playing the tenor horn."

In tribute to Ernie's long career Worcester Concert Brass is playing a special concert in the evening of Sunday, May 10 to raise both funds and awareness for Support Dogs.

Mrs Arnett said: "Having a Support Dog saves your life in many ways. Banjo has huge paw prints to fill but he seems well on his way."