A VET surgery on wheels has been launched to help pet owners who struggle to visit their neighbourhood practice.

The mobile clinic will be run by Willows Veterinary Group and serve areas across the town.

A van has been specially fitted with everything you would find in a normal consulting room and will travel to a different patch every Wednesday and Thursday to care for sick animals.

An appointment will cost £25 in addition to the usual consultation fee and bill for any other services but a spokesman said it takes away the hassle of sitting in a busy waiting room and more than one pet can have a checkup in the same visit.

Kate Williams, a vet based at the group's Bridgefoot and Beech House clinics, said: "Whether it’s older clients relying on a relative to drive their pet to the vets, families who have to juggle the children and their pets, or owners who have multiple animals and struggle in the waiting room, the service aims to make it easier, affordable and more convenient for those people.

"We know a lot of people find it hard to bring their pets into the vets either because of transport or mobility issues.

"Some pets also have mobility issues of their own and a number find a visit to the vets quite stressful."

The vet van has a dedicated phone line for residents to book an appointment and a spokesman for the group said the service will have a similar system to that used by parcel delivery companies.

To find out more call 377355 or visit willowsvetgroup.co.uk.