HOMELESS cats and dogs across the region will benefit from the generosity of staff and clients at a Romsey veterinary practice.

A bumper haul of pet food, toys and bedding collected over the festive holidays by Mainstone Vets is now being distributed to grateful moggies and pooches at Nine Lives Cat Rescue and the Happy Dogs shelter.

Mainstone Vets conduct the appeal every year. Head nurse Lynn Kerrigan said: "We appreciate all the generous donations that people have made and these donations make a big difference to these charities."

Mainstone Vets supports the Nine Lives charity, based near Romsey, every year. It is dedicated to rescuing stray, abandoned and unwanted cats and kittens in Romsey, Southampton and Winchester.

A different dog charity is chosen every year and it was most recently the turn of Happy Dogs based in Ringwood.