Ashleigh and Pudsey "overwhelmed" by public support

Ashleigh Butler (17) and dog Pudsey (6), from Northamptonshire who won ITV's Britain's Got Talent.

Britain's Got Talent winner Ashleigh Butler from Wellingborough in Northamptonshire says she felt "overwhelmed" by support from the public after she and her dog** **Pudsey triumphed in the live final of the competition on ITV1 on Saturday.

The 17-year-old said it was a "complete shock" when they were announced winners of the ITV show, beating favourites Jonathan and Charlotte.

"I am overwhelmed by the support that we have received from everyone and we both say a massive 'thank you' to everyone who picked up the phone for us and voted," she told ITV Daybreak.

"Our goal was to get into the final and when we were the last two, with Jonathan and Charlotte, I honestly thought they had won it. I was preparing myself to jump on them and congratulate them. So it was a complete shock when our names were called out," she said.

She said** **Pudsey was enjoying his new-found fame.

"He is loving it. The more attention he gets, the more he loves it. He is a bit tired at the moment, so I think he needs just a good couple of days' rest. But he is brilliant."

The teenager and her pet are now preparing to entertain the Queen at the Royal Variety Performance after they were crowned winners of the show on Saturday night.

They charmed viewers with their fast-footed routine to the Mission Impossible theme to take home the £500,000 prize.

Pudsey - a border collie, bichon frise and Chinese crested cross - obviously won over fearsome judge Simon Cowell, who admitted he has a soft spot for dogs. He said the pair were one of his "favourite ever acts".

The pair beat off stiff competition from dance troupes, synchronised swimmers and a Welsh choir.

Their win came as a shock to bookies who placed pop-opera duo Jonathan and Charlotte, aged 17 and 16 respectively, as the hot favourites. The teenagers, from Ilford, Essex, came in second place after their "sensational" performance of The Prayer.

Other acts which made the final included singers Sam Kelly from Spixworth in Norfolk and Ryan O'Shaugnessy, synchronised swimmers Aquabatique and Welsh dance group Nu Sxool.

Youngster Molly Rainford also impressed the audience with her rendition of Ava Maria. The 11-year-old from Essex told Ant and Dec it felt like a "dream come true" to perform on the show.