NORTHWICH is fast becoming a town of pet lovers as a veterinary hospital in Hartford has proved.

The Willows Veterinary Hospital, in Chester Road, is to double in size to cope with increasing demand.

"There's so much more that vets can do these days and people are learning that through television programmes," said leading vet Morag Adams, who has been at the hospital for 17 years.

"More people have got pets and therefore more people want to have pets treated."

Once building work has finished there will be four operating theatres, six consulting rooms, dog wards, a cat ward, kennels and a waiting area.

Work will include extending into a large animal pharmacy in the current building.

Plans have just been approved by Vale Royal Borough Council and work is expected to begin in February or March 2000 and should take around six months.

"It's going to be a lot of upheaval but it's going to be worth it in the end, said Morag.

"Really we've just outgrown these premises, I'm really excited about the plans."

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