Craig, 39, will play vicious Bill Sikes in next week's Halifax Light Opera Society musical version of the Charles Dickens tale at the town's Victoria Theatre.

After asking around without success for a bull terrier-type dog to play Sikes's unfortunate companion Bullseye, he stumbled across his co-star while driving to see a friend at Claremount, Halifax.

Billy the Staffordshire bull terrier was out for walkies with owner David Robinson, 53, of Horley Green, Claremount, when Craig spotted him and thought he would be perfect for the role.

Now the pair have built up a bond of trust and Calderdale people will be able to see the three-year-old pet on stage from Tuesday, November 10, to Saturday, November 14 (7.15pm, with a 2.15pm Saturday matinee).

Craig, of Illingworth Road, Halifax, who was a member of the Light Opera Society Juniors as a teenager, said: "I first saw Billy walking with his owner and thought he would be ideal for the show. Then I saw him again three days later and stopped the car. Billy came straight up to me and I started stroking him.

"Our chairman, George Mitchell, phoned Mr Robinson and asked if we could have him in the show. Billy has taken to me quite well – when I'm on stage and he's not, he cries for me. He's got really attached to me and when I go and pick him up for rehearsals he bounds up to me.

"We have 46 children in the show and they all absolutely adore him.

"I think I will have to go and see him when the show has finished because I've got attached to him."

Mr Robinson, father of Huddersfield Giants rugby league scrum half Luke Robinson, and wife Sue were given free tickets to watch Billy's stage debut.

Tickets for the show are available from the Victoria Theatre box office: 01422 351158.