An 8st 9lbs mastiff has been crowned the world's ugliest dog.

Martha the Neapolitan mastiff looked unimpressed when she stepped up to receive her top dog award at the 29th annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest in California, sleeping through the presentation ceremony in her honour.

Despite her dog's rather lacklustre reaction, Ms Zindler said they were "thrilled".

Martha was rescued when she was nearly blind, but can now see after several operations her handler Shirley Zindler said.

Along with the prestigious title, Martha won $1,500 dollars (£1,170) and a trip to New York.

She beat 13 other dogs, including deaf and blind Moe, a Brussels griffon-pug mix who, at 16, was the oldest in the competition. He came in second ahead of Chase, a 14-year-old Chinese crested-harke mix, who was third.

The contestants were judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, personality and audience reaction.