New technology which saved a dog from having a leg amputated could soon be used to treat landmine blast survivors.

Synthetic bone was developed as part of a £2.7 million project to produce 3D-printed replacement bone led by the University of Glasgow and Sir Bobby Charlton's Find A Better Way charity.

Eva, a two-year-old Munsterlander - a type of gundog - was left with a 2cm gap in the bone of her right foreleg after being hit by a car last year.

Her vet at Glasgow University's veterinary hospital, Mr William Marshall, found out by chance about the synthetic bone research at the same university.

Project leaders Prof Manuel Salmeron-Sanchez and Prof Matt Dalby began work in January to develop synthetic bone for use by trauma surgeons to repair the limbs of landmine blast survivors.

Trials on human patients were not due to start for years, but they took the opportunity to try the technology on Eva, saving her leg.

The technique uses a natural protein called BMP-2 to stimulate bone regrowth and a common substance called poly(ethyl acrylate) or PEA to hold it in place.

A mixture of bone chips and the two substances were placed in the gap in Eva's leg seven weeks ago and the bone has now regrown.

It is hoped the pioneer treatment, when combined with 3D-printed plastic scaffolding covered with stem cells, could help bone trauma victims around the world.