TIPS on how to care for creatures great and small will be offered to youngsters hoping to earn all-important Brownie badges.

Workshops designed specifically for would-be Girl Guides between the ages of seven and ten-years-old will be offered by Darlington’s Pets at Home store staff to help Brownies reach a milestone achievement.

Colleagues in the store will offer advice to groups working towards their Friend to Animals badge which requires Brownies to lean about five animal welfare needs, including shelter, food and water, good health, appropriate company and habitats.

Mark Deighton, Pets at Home Darlington store manager, said: “Our friendly colleagues are always happy to share their extensive knowledge of pet care.

“The free workshops and workbooks will help local Brownies find out all the information they need to achieve some of their badge activity tasks, teaching them how to care for pets responsibly.”

To obtain the all-important badge, Brownies must complete a number of tasks, which include making an informative poster about their favourite pet, helping at an animal charity or creating a quiz about endangered animals.

Workshops offered in the Darlington Retail Park shop, off Yarm Road, will give information on how to look after small animals, fish and insects and what food they should be given.

The Brownies will also learn how to spot common illnesses in their pets and how to give them a long and healthy life.

To book a workshop, call 01325-364499.