MEET Ebby, possibly the world's oldest living dog.

She's at least 22-years-old, said loyal owner Paul Jones.

If he can provide the correct documentation, Guinness World Records said Ebby will take the title from 20-year-old Otto, which happens to live across the border in Shrewsbury.

Ebby's remarkable tale is all the more surprising considering her difficult start in life. In fact the omens were far from encouraging when, as a frightened stray, she ran into Mr Jones's tombstone shop back in 1987.

But death has eluded the remarkable border collie mongrel, who is now at least 155 in dog years.

Mr Jones said: "She has been a great dog. I've had some troubled times, but she always sticks by my side."

Mr Jones registered Ebby on July 28, 1987, at a vets' in the city's Brunswick Street — and was told at the time that she was already between nine-to-12-months old.

Mr Jones, of family-owned monumental masons J Cecil Jones, recalled the moment Ebby came into his life.

"She ran into my tombstone shop on Oxford Street and hid under my desk," he said. "She was shaking. I shoed her out but she was almost knocked over on the road, and came back in."

Next port of call was Singleton Dogs Home, but she made such a racket that Mr Jones took her to Bishopston, where he was living at the time, leaving contact details with the dogs' home.

But nobody got in touch as the weeks went by, so office dog Ebby joined her new owner on his regular commute from Gower to Swansea, sitting quietly under his desk during the day.

Regular walks, plenty of TLC and a daily cod liver oil tablet has kept the canine centurion in fine fettle.

"Her coat is glossy, she's perky and her tail keeps wagging," said Mr Jones, who now lives in Reynoldston with his wife, Mair.

But time has taken its toll, and Ebby can't manage the beach walks of old these days. She's deaf and going blind, but still patrols the garden at home, warding off roaming livestock.

And she has a four-footed friend to keep her company.

"A sheepdog turned up at our farm," said Mr Jones. "We never buy them — they just turn up! We called her Ivy, but she is known as the youngster, even though she's 13.

"She follows Ebby down into the garden, and makes sure she finds her way back."

A Guinness World Records spokesman confirmed that Shrewsbury survivor, Otto, aged 20 years and six months, was currently recognised as the world's oldest dog.

But that will all change if Mr Jones provides the necessary paperwork, he added.

Mr Jones said when Ebby is finally claimed by the grim reaper, he will bury her on the farm. "And she'll probably have a tombstone as well," he added.