IT REALLY was a dog's life for two pretend pooches after walkies to a York pub saw them arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

The comedy canines - alias Phil Lawrence, of York, and Paul Burton, of Preston -- were promoting Lendal pub Varsity.

Their costumes were based on cult Channel 4 programme Trigger Happy TV, in which frontman Dom Joly does strange stunts dressed as a dog.

But yesterday's trip to a Monkgate pub, the Keystones, landed the duo in the doghouse when a complaint was made to police and they were arrested.

Spokeswoman Lisa Ridgeway said of the visit to the Keystones: "We just put a few stickers on people's backs and then we were asked to leave.

"On the way out they had a pretend fight, like on Trigger Happy TV, and an ashtray fell to the floor. It didn't break, but a couple of minutes later they'd been arrested.

"We've done this in 20 different cities in the last few weeks. Unfortunately York is the only one that doesn't seem to have a sense of humour."

Varsity landlord Carl Davis said: "It was only meant to be a bit of fun - we never thought this would happen.

"I'm just glad the two lads are all right."

The two were kept in the pound for about four hours before Paul, 20, was cautioned. Phil, 23, a Varsity barman, was released without charge.

Updated: 11:23 Wednesday, October 10, 2001