A popular veterinary practice is expanding its services and taking on staff after a major redevelopment of its Biddulph branch.

The Charter Veterinary Service branch on Congleton Road has seen its operating theatre modernised, extended and fitted with a new operating table and lighting.

The practice, part of the Willows Group, has had its reception and consulting rooms enlarged with a new examination table and diagnostic equipment and a new extended cattery moved upstairs.

There are three vets among the 11 staff with plans to recruit at least two more and vet and Clinical Director Marcus Johnstone, who has headed the practice since 2000, said: "It has been a substantial renovation and really brings us bang up to date as a modern, well-equipped veterinary service.

"We have come a long way since All Creatures Great And Small but we feel we have retained the feel of a family vet which is important to our patients and their owners.

"At the same time we have upgraded our services and facilities to what is now expected so that we carry out about five operations a day and see up to 40 animals."

The new-look practice has also gone down well with clients like Adrian and Mandy Hancock, from Biddulph, who have been bringing their dogs there for over 25 years - the latest is 15-year-old shih tzu Sammy.

Mandy said: "It's just a really good service here. Everyone listens to you and they make you welcome even though we've been here so often – and they always look after him so well."

Sammy's ailments include various allergies, kidney problems, spinal issues and his teeth and Adrian said: "He wasn't eating properly because of his teeth and was just wasting away but Marcus sorted him out and he's still going strong."

Marcus added: "They say cats have nine lives but I think Sammy has had 27 but he's still looking well."

Ken and Nora Spencer, from Mow Cop, go back even further and have been bringing their pets to the surgery for more than 50 years – the latest is Bob, an eight-year-old shih tzu-bichon fries.

Ken said: "They've always looked after them so well and they still do. It's brilliant here and Marcus and all the staff have done a great job for us – I can even remember him starting here."

The building on Congleton Road was originally a TB clinic but has been a vet's practice since 1958 and Marcus said: "When I originally came here in the early Nineties it was a walk-up surgery with a single consulting room."

Charter Vets merged with Willows in 2015 and the latest redevelopment makes it a much better environment for the staff, the patients and their owners, according to Marcus who added: "This investment ensures that we can continue to serve the local area for years to come.

"The level of service has moved on a lot and we are now equipped to provide complex surgical procedures here and the levels of diagnosis nowadays are incredible.

"The pandemic did have an affect but we were very, very busy in lockdown because people could still bring their pets here but would have to wait in the car ark while we brought them in to examine and treat them.

"It's been nice to have people back in and to get back to offering a normal service'

"The only reason we are all are in the profession is because of our love of animals – that's why we do what we do. We want to see our patients get better.

"It's a team here and any animal that comes through here and goes out well again, it's the whole team that's involved and we all derive satisfaction from that.

"We get to know them and bond with them and on the sad occasions when they pass away then we all feel it as well."

Willows Veterinary Group, part of VetPartners, offers a wealth of knowledge and expertise through a network of 23 small animal practices, a referral veterinary hospital, an equine hospital and a farm practice, located across Cheshire and into Greater Manchester, North Wales, the Wirral and Staffordshire. Willows is accredited by The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

For more information about Willows Veterinary Group, go to www.willowsvetgroup.co.uk or Facebook @WillowsVetGroup.