Lord Heseltine says claims he strangled his mother's dog are a "terrible misrepresentation of what happened".

Speaking to the PM programme, the former deputy prime minister said the dog turned on him when he checked a problem it had with its paw.

"I managed to catch the choker chain that was around his neck and twisting that, obviously got a grip on the dog.

"After - it all seemed so long in the event but it probably wasn't more than 15 seconds - he went quite limp and reverted to being the dog we all knew and loved."

A vet put the dog down the next day because the family feared it was dangerous.

(Picture: Lord Heseltine Credit: PA)