She started out as a scrawny chick – but now Princess Tina is the Champion Turkey of England.

The plucky bird was bought for £2.50 by an animal-lover who felt sorry for her.

Now, after a year of love and care, she has been awarded top prize at the National Federation of Poultry Clubs show, in Stafford.

Her owner, Marion Lovelace, 60, from Burton Overy, bought Tina after spotting her at Melton market in July last year.

Mrs Lovelace, who runs a kennel service for dogs, said: "I picked up this tiny box and thought 'What on earth could be in here?'. I opened it up and saw the scrawniest turkey I had ever laid eyes on.

"I never thought she would survive but I bought her anyway and looked after her, and this autumn she transformed in the most wonderful looking turkey I have seen.

"I have never entered a show bird competition before, but I read a few books about the subject and saw Tina had all the markings of a good show bird.

"I thought I would take the chance and I'm glad I did. She went up against 24 other turkeys which were bred for competition, and she won."

The Champion Turkey of England competition took place at Stafford County Show Ground at the weekend.

Judges looked at the health of the poultry, the feathering, marking and condition of the head, body, legs and wings. Tina won a medallion, pottery cup and an engraved silver cup when she claimed the title of Champion Turkey.

Janice Houghton-Wallace, secretary of Turkey Club UK, was at the event.

She said: "Marion's bird was the best by a long way. She beat last year's champion and the story of how she got to the competition in the first place is fantastic.

"When Marion bought the bird there was no way she could have known it would have been so special.

"It could have been a cross-breed or had something wrong with it, but it wasn't, it was the most beautiful turkey I have seen."

Mrs Lovelace was offered £275 for Tina on the day of the competition so she could be breed with male show turkeys, but refused the offer.

She bought five hens to keep Tina warm, so she could learn to feed, and to keep her company.

Tina, a single-breasted bronze, is 16 months old and weighs about 16lbs. She lives at Mrs Lovelace's kennels with hens, dogs, cats and horses.

Although Christmas is a nervous time for turkeys, her owner said Tina is here to stay.