A KIND-HEARTED Spa woman, who offers a cheap pet neutering service on her Droitwich Spa estate, has been given an award by the RSPCA.

Pat Dymock, of Paddock Way, has provided the service on the Westlands for the last five years.Now she has been thanked by the Worcestershire Mid and Worcester branch of the RSPCA.

The award, which was given to Pat at the branch's AGM, recognised her "meritorious service for the local community and invaluable work to improve welfare of animals in this country and abroad."

In 1996, when Pat discovered that kittens on the estate were being drowned or dumped in plastic bags, she began the Pet Project Westlands with the help of five elderly residents.

The scheme is for people on low incomes and gives them access to inexpensive neutering for their cats and dogs.

The 74-year-old collects the pets at 8am and drives them ten miles to a vet who charges much less than the average surgery.

She then drives back to collect them in the afternoon and takes them back to their owners.

Pat, who has now helped more than 200 animals on the Westlands, said: "To receive this award is lovely. I really enjoy what I do because I know the neutering has saved many unwanted kittens and puppies being born."