Adorable photo series capture Great Dane Elliot as he grows up, trailing his favourite fluffy toy

A dog named after the fiery character from 'Pete's Dragon' is inseparable from a cuddly toy from the Disney film on the much-loved tale.

Elliott Mae, a three-year-old Merle Great Dane from Denver, Colorado, was named after the character from the children's story, and adorable photos chart her friendship with a toy dragon of the same name from the film.

The story follows the friendship of a boy named Peter and a dragon named Elliot, and adorable images show the canine Eliot growing up with her plush pal from being a puppy in 2017, all the way to 2020.

An amazing photo series capture Merle Great Dane from Colorado Elliott Mae as she grows up with her favourite soft toy, also named Elliot. Both were named after the character of Pete's Dragon

All grown up! Even though she's now four times its size, Elliott Mae is still best friend with the dragon soft toy

Elliott's owner Mandy Helwege, 33, said: 'I got Elliott from a breeder in May of 2017 when she was eight-weeks-old.

'I'd dreamed of owning a Great Dane growing up and waited over 15 years to finally be able to own one.

'My Elliott was named after Elliot the Dragon, I had her name picked out shortly after she was born.

'I ordered the dragon toy off of Amazon so her breeder could use it in a photoshoot with her that I paid her to do when she was four-weeks-old.

Best friends fur ever! The Great Dane's owner Mandy Helwege, 33, explained the family had kept the dragon and Elliott's puppy collar as keepsakes

Mandy revealed that initially she just bought the dragon for a photoshoot with Elliott Mae when she was four weeks old

'We have kept it with her old collars as a keepsake for close to three years.

'Elliott is full of life, energetic, loving and independent.

'She's the best hiking partner and loves to adventure and explore the mountains we have surrounding us...maybe as much as she loves being in front of the camera and the center of attention.

'She's not the brightest crayon in the box sometimes but she makes us laugh constantly and is my best friend.

'I'd often heard the phrase of people referring to one of their dogs as their "heart dog" and I can't say I understood that sentiment until Elliott came into my life.'

'We have a connection unlike anything I've ever experienced or even could've imagined the first time I laid eyes on her.'

Elliott is now an active adult Dane full of energy, but she still loves to cudddle up to her soft toy

Puppy love! Elliott as a youngster with her plush pal, who has been by her side for three years

Never without my toy! The dragon used to be bigger than Elliott's whole body but is now smaller than her head