A north Cumbrian vets practice has taken on more staff - thanks to a boom in people buying pets during the pandemic.

New recruits, Louise Watson and Vevila McGeoch, at Paragon Veterinary Group – which has a base in Wetheral - prove that it is never too late to start a career in veterinary medicine.

Louise, 47, said: “It wasn't my first career but in my 20s I decided to retrain because it's what I always wanted to do

“I have an interest in felines, anything to do with cats, and I like working in the hospital.”

Her colleague Vevila only joined in May and for her too it was the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition.

“I always wanted to be a vet nurse,” said the 29-year-old.

“So I did a bit of training when I left school but then life got in the way and I ended up doing something else.

“But it was always a passion of mine.”

Her aim now is to study to become a veterinary nurse.

Veterinary surgeon Graham Lewis said: “There has been a boom in pet ownership during Covid and our team has had to expand and adapt to continue to provide the level of service we try to offer our clients and their pets.”

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