Ananova:

A would-be mayor is in the dog house after turning packs of stray pooches into living billboards.

Puzzled voters found their streets flooded with dogs - all wearing posters saying 'Vote for Radu Nicolau' on their backs.

The stunt has infuriated local animal rights groups who slammed the stunt in Bacau, eastern Romania, as 'sick exploitation'.

But dogged Nicolau was unrepentent, saying: "It's the best way to get my message across.

"I love dogs and they can spread the word about my campaign to lots of places quicker than me and my campaign team could."