DOG owners are being urged to attend free sessions to get their pets microchipped ahead of a change in the law.

Richmondshire District Council said a partnership with the Dogs Trust had seen almost 150 dogs undergo the procedure, which costs about £30 at private veterinary clinics, and involves inserting a sterile chip the size of a grain of rice between a dog's shoulder blades.

Every dog owner in England must microchip their animal from next April under plans intended to reduce the number of animals dumped or lost each year, at a cost of £57m to the taxpayer and welfare charities.

The microchips are coded with owners' details, and those who do not comply could face fines of up to £500.

Members of the council’s waste and street scene team are being trained to carry out the process themselves to ensure as many dogs as possible are ready for the change.

For details about the council's microchipping sessions, visit the authority's Facebook and Twitter sites.