DOG buyers in Colchester are being influenced by celebrities, according to new figures.

Statistics from dog charity Kennel Club show that the number of French Bulldogs, popular with celebrities who often post snaps of their pets on picture sharing website Instagram, has risen by 329 per cent in the last five years.

So-called handbag dogs such as Smooth Coat Chihuahuas have also increased by 134 per cent while the number of Pugs and Pomeranians in the town have also more than doubled.

Kennel Club secretary Caroline Kisko said: “We are not only seeing celebrity dog ownership influence Colchester’s choice of dog, but are now seeing dogs who are celebrities in their own right, leading to huge increases in dog breed popularity in Colchester and the rest of the UK.

“This can result in people making the wrong choice when it comes to dog ownership, choosing a dog that is not right for their lifestyle simply because it is cute or popular on social media. “It is important to remember that every breed is different.

The most popular breed in Colchester is the Labrador Retriever. Some 18 per cent of pooches registered in Colchester since 2005 have been Labradors.