ANIMAL nurse Julie Irons, from Badsey, near Evesham, is ready to take on more of a starring role in a popular TV show.

She has just been filmed on a trip to Egypt to try and help educate people there on how to treat animals more humanely.

The week-long trip with celebrity vet Emma Milne was on behalf of the Brook Hospital for Animals and was filmed for the next series of Vets In Practice.

Julie works with Emma at Vets On The Park in Cheltenham and has appeared in previous series of the popular show - though usually in the background.

"I haven't really enjoyed being in front of the cameras up to now," said Julie. "I could never think of anything to say so they stopped asking me questions.

"I'm more comfortable now than I used to be so I'll probably be appearing more."

Julie will be on screen in the film of the trip to Edfu in central Egypt, which she said was worse than they had expected.

"A lot of the animals are hurt in road accidents because people just don't take care," said the 26-year-old, who grew up in Offenham. "We also visited brick kilns where the donkeys are made to work faster by being hit with strips of conveyor belt.

"Our aim wasn't to tell the people off about it but to try and educate them to treat the animals in a better way." The new series is set to be shown next month.

Emma Milne lent a healing hand to Beckford Wildlife Trust near Evesham at the Open Day on Sunday.

The star officially opened the event, which raised around £5,500 for the charity. She also judged the fun dog show which was being held for the first time and attracted around 100 entries.

"We probably had about 1500 people in a steady flow throughout the day," said manager Caroline Gould. "We want to keep on making the Open Day a bigger and better event so it was very successful.

"It also helps us to get our message across for volunteers. We need them to carry out all kinds of tasks apart from working with the animals in the hospital."

The Open Day also featured attractions including a craft fair, a raffle and prison dogs from Long Lartin performing in a display.

4 Vet nurse Julie Irons, who is getting used to being in front of cameras, with her pet dog Kenny. Picture by Louise Barnsley dc1565-b