A new pub landlady has been pulling in the punters with a very unusual assistant.

Drinkers at The Chequers in Stevenage High Street have been left wondering whether they have had one too many after a wolf appeared in the pub last week.

Phyllis, a 14-month-old Alaskan Malamute (Canis lupus familiaris) - traditionally a sled and hunting dog with relatively recent wolf interbreeding as its Latin name suggests - has been getting used to her new surroundings after her owner Kyla Cox took over the pub on Tuesday.

Kyla, who moved from a pub in Acton to be closer to the countryside, said Phyllis is very friendly - despite her blood-chilling howl which she does instead of barking.

“She loves people. She’s a right tart. She loves men. A lot of people just come in to see her – she gets more attention than me!”

Phyllis, who is much bigger than her other close relative the husky, also loves to swim, and jumped in the Stevenage Clock Tower fountain for a splash around on a visit to the new town, making everyone laugh Kyla said.

The 25-year-old said she helps around the pub by letting her know when she has a customer.

“She’s not here to protect me, but she makes me aware that someone’s come into the pub. She goes into pack mode. She can sense things a lot quicker than we can.”

But mainly Phyllis is a loving friend she added. “I idolise her and she idolises me.”