A service station that has been named among the best in the UK has added a new pooch-friendly feature to help take the stress out of travelling with pets.

Motorway service station provider Extra is planning to ring in National Walk Your Dog Day in style on Thursday, February 22, after installing new doggy drinking stations at eight of its branches in the UK, including Beaconsfield services on Junction 2 of the M40.

Tom Dobson, CEO of the Extra group, said he wanted to help dog-owning customers keep their journeys as "seamless and stress-free" as possible, adding that he was "proud" of the new initiative which has so far had a "fantastic" response.

Mr Dobson continued: “Having ranked top of the four biggest operators for overall satisfaction in the most recent Transport Focus Motorway Services User Survey, we felt it was only right to extend the same great hospitality to our canine companions.

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“With over one-third of UK households owning a dog, and many travelling with them frequently, we know how important it is to ensure that your pooches are catered for during long car journeys."

Extra's mission to become the most dog-friendly services operator in the UK has also involved the creation of special dog-walking maps for its Beaconsfield site, directing antsy pets and their owners around its extensive landscaped areas.

The services station has frequently been ranked among the best in the country for features including its wide range of food options, family-friendly activities and green surroundings.

Just some of the big names populating Beaconsfield Services' food court include Starbucks, McDonald's, Nando's, West Cornwall Pasty Co and Tapori Indian Street Food.