PETS have given a new vet surgery the paws up after exploring the centre at an opening event.

Willows Veterinary Group opened the site at Birchwood Shopping Centre and invited animal lovers for a tour, including Warrington North MP Helen Jones and deputy mayor Cllr Les Morgan.

Head vet Philippa Bradley, who has been practising for eight years, said: “We were due to start the tours at 10am but by 9.45am there was already a queue waiting for us to open up.

“We had a fantastically successful day and everyone who came along was very impressed with the facilities.

“It was great to give people who have probably never seen anything like it before a look behind the scenes of a working vets’ surgery.”

Willows group already runs Beech House Veterinary Centre on Wilderspool Causeway, Bridgefoot Veterinary Surgery in Latchford and Orford Lane Veterinary Surgery.

The new centre includes separate wards for dogs and cats, two consulting rooms, a pharmacy, a laboratory, an operating theatre and an X-ray suite.

Dog fan Cllr Les Morgan said: “We’ve always kept pet dogs and we currently have a 10-year-old Jack Russell called Patch.

“It’s good to see this new surgery opening which is a real asset to the area and its animal lovers.”

MP Helen Jones added: “I am impressed with the high-tech equipment it has for treating the animals and it’s very well located to serve the Birchwood area.

“It’s always good to see new businesses opening up in the constituency.”

A number of residents signed up including 19-year-old Alyx Diken and her seven-month-old Cocker Spaniel, Harley.