LABRADOR Max is always the first in line for an ice cream when vendor Michael Mautarelli makes his rounds.

The 12-year-old dog from Cowling goes mad every time he hears Mr Mautarelli's van and makes a dash for his free cone before crowds gather.

If he's too late he'll sit and wait: for Max has mastered the art of queuing up.

Owner Jane Waller told the Herald: "All of a sudden one day the ice cream van went down the street and my little boy, Joshua, went down to it. Max followed him and he was given a free ice cream.

"Now, every time he hears the van, he howls like a baby until he is let out, runs across the road and queues up. He gets an ordinary cone, but sometimes he has strawberry sauce on it."

Mr Mautarelli added: "Max is always the first one to get to the van. I like dogs - I used to have three of my own - Max queues up and is a very nice dog.