TRAVELLERS stopping off at the Leigh Delamere service station on the M4 took the opportunity to have their dogs checked over at a PDSA PetCheck at the weekend.

The PDSA, Britain's leading veterinary charity, parked its special PetCheck mobile unit at the Moto services off the eastbound carriageway on Saturday and Sunday.

Veterinary staff met more than 160 visitors, giving out advice and information on caring for all sorts of pets, and treated 25 dogs to free health checks.

"That's a good number as people are not always willing to stay more than 20 minutes when they stop at a service station," said a PDSA spokesman.

The PDSA organised its 35-week PetCheck tour to encourage people to think carefully about the best way to care for their pets and prevent unnecessary illness.

A PDSA survey last year found that at least half of cats and dogs were overweight, which can shorten a pet's life by causing all sorts of health problems.

During the tour the PDSA unit will stop at 81 different places, including Moto service stations and Pets At Home superstores, as well as selected county shows.

Visitors to the unit were also able to find out about PDSA's local veterinary service, fundraising and volunteering opportunities.

The charity was founded in 1917 and it provides free vet care to the pets of needy people through a network of 45 PetAid hospitals and 264 private practices. To be eligible for PDSA treatment a pet owner must receive either housing benefit or council tax benefit.