A PET health expert from Worcester has won a top national award.

Jan Stevenson who works at the Severn Veterinary Centre in Tybridge Street, St John's, Worcester, won the pet health counsellor of the year at the British Small Animal Veterinary Congress held in Birmingham this month.

The national award is only presented to a veterinary nurse who has trained to become a pet health counsellor and who has given a high standard of care to pets.

Mrs Stevenson, who has worked at the vets for the last two years, runs in-house health clubs for pets and gives advice on worming, flea control and nutrition.

Mrs Stevenson qualified as a veterinary nurse in 1973 and became a pet health counsellor last year.

She was one of six finalists to attend the Oscar-style dinner and was presented with a certificate, a bottle of Champagne and £1,500 in travel vouchers.

The Severn Veterinary Centre has recently opened a new rehabilitation unit at its Berkeley House practice in Warndon Villages.

The new centre which still operates as an orthopaedic referral service has a hydrotherapy pool for pets.