Lucca, a 12-year-old war dog enlisted with the US Marine Corps, has been honoured with the highest bravery award after she lost a leg while serving on a mission in Afghanistan. The German Shepherd - who has successfully completed 400 missions with the Marine Corps - was awarded the Dickin Medal, the highest honour for war animals. Lucca was presented with the medal at Wellington Barracks in London on Tuesday.

The brave soldier lost her leg in March 2012 while on a mission in Afghanistan. Lucca is highly trained in sniffing out explosives, and it was during one of her tasks that she got caught in an IED blast which almost ended her life. But her handler Cpl Juan Rodriguez treated her with first aid in the form of a tourniquet before the medics arrived.

The medal is "the highest award any animal in the world can achieve while serving in military conflict," according to the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA).