Tess Daly ‘devastated’ after accidentally running over and killing family dog

‘We are heartbroken at losing Minnie,' Strictly host says

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Tess Daly was "devastated" after she accidentally ran over and killed her family dog.

Maltese Shih Tzu Minnie escaped from the Strictly Come Dancing co-host's Buckinghamshire mansion through a door left open by builders.

As Daly arrived back home in her Range Rover, she was unaware that the six-year-old dog had fled the house and unwittingly ran the pet over.

"I'm horrified and devastated by this terrible, tragic accident," the television presenter told The Sun on Sunday. "It has had a huge effect on the whole family and we are heartbroken at losing Minnie. This has, and continues to be, a very emotional time for us all."

Daly described Minnie's death as "a dog owner's worst nightmare".

The 49-year-old, who is married to fellow TV presenter Vernon Kay, also has a four-year-old Chihuahua called Blue.

The accident occurred days before the couple were due to fly to the Maldives with their two daughters in celebration of Daly's upcoming 50th birthday.

In 2016, Daly backed an initiative raising awareness of lungworm following the sudden death of her five-year-old Golden Retriever, Sam.

“We are a nation of dog lovers and I think the public will appreciate being made aware of lungworm and its dangers," she said, in support of the Be Lungworm Aware campaign.