SWINDON is the pet capital of Britain, a new survey by a pet food manufacturer says.

The study, by the makers of Sheba and Cesar, shows 85 per cent of households in the town own an animal.

Swindonians spend an average of £2.80 a week pampering their pooches but only 60p a week on household essentials like soap, according to the survey.

In the last 10 years our grocery bills have increased by 4.6 per cent while spending on pets has gone up by 20 per cent.

We are now buying foods such as Italian beef and pasta for our dogs.