Kerry Katona buys a guard dog

Kerry Katona has purchased a fierce guard dog in order to protect her home.

The former Atomic Kitten singer has decided that she wants to increase security following last summer's burglarly at her house in Wilmslow, Cheshire.

The £3,000 dog, a large Alsatian Kai, was originally from Germany - so Kerry and her husband Mark Croft are being taught by a trainer to give commands in German. Croft has insisted that the animal will not be a danger to their children.

"We'll just get on with it," Croft is quoted by the Daily Star as saying. "That's why we've got our killer dog - if the kids kick off, we'll get the dog to round them up."

A picture printed in the newspaper shows the dog leaping up, straining at the leash and baring its teeth to a passer-by in the street - proving that Kerry and Mark still have work to do if they wish to control the animal.

Chris Laurence, from welfare charity Dogs Trust, warned: "The larger the dog is, the more damage it can do, particularly to young children. The dog must be properly trained and constantly supervised for it not to be a danger."