A lurcher-Staffordshire bull terrier cross has been "overlooked time and time again" in her search for a forever home.

Stella has been at the Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home in Cambridge since March, but has yet to be adopted.

The RSPCA has launched an urgent appeal to find her a home, as part of its Adoptober campaign.

The charity hopes the campaign will encourage people to adopt pets from rescue centres rather than buying from breeders, to help ease the rehoming crisis.

The RSPCA says it is facing a rehoming crisis across England and Wales, with more animals coming into care than being rehomed.

Last year, the charity's 14 rehoming centres and 135 independently-run branches found new homes for 28,208 pets, but 40,118 animals arrived at the shelters.

Shannon, an animal care assistant at the home, said: "Stella is a wonderful dog.

"She’s made so many friends here at the centre, and we cannot understand why she is so overlooked.

"It’s been an honour to be one of Stella’s main care assistants and getting to know her goofy personality over the last year.

"Stella, affectionately known as Stelly-beans, has so much love to give and I know whoever welcomes her into their home are very lucky people."

Karen Colman, who leads the charity's team finding places for rescued animals, said: "Our rescue centres are jam-packed, and across the board, we’ve been seeing more animals coming to us than we are rehoming.

"We are issuing a rallying cry to anyone considering adding a pet to their family to step in and help by giving a rescue pet a second chance instead of buying from breeders.

"The cost of living seems to be a driving factor across the board.

"Our recent Animal Kindness Index found that 83 per cent of pet-owners in the South West felt that the cost of looking after their pet had become slightly or much more expensive, with owners finding the costs of pet food and vet bills higher."

To adopt Stella, or any other pet, visit the RSPCA's 'Find A Pet' webpage.