You may never opt for a conventional pedicure again once you have dipped your toes into the Garra Rufa fish experience, says Jenny Needham.

THE last time I had my toes nibbled was in the Scilly Isles. By fish. I was standing in a crystal clear bay on Tresco when a shoal of mini silver submarines decided to go on the attack and, I have to say, it wasn’t an unpleasant experience… I didn’t expect to repeat it, though, in Darlington town centre. It’s not somewhere I tend to shed my socks. Until, that is, the Garra Rufa fish swam into town.

These clever little things are exotic pedicurists.

Found in hot springs near Kangal, a small town in Turkey, they have been softening and cleansing the skin of bathers for centuries. Now the rest of us can turn our feet over to their attention.

The tiny fish – affectionately known as doctor fish – are a type of toothless carp that nibble on the dead skin. Their suction-cup mouths are perfectly shaped for gently lifting dry skin away without damaging the healthy new cells underneath – revealing soft, supple and smooth skin. The treatment is said to help those with skin conditions, such as psoriasis, and it is also believed that Garra Rufa fish secrete an enzyme – diathanol – that improves skin regeneration.

Emma Maitchell and her partner Antony Connell are responsible for bringing the treatment to Darlington, where it was welcomed by Indulgence hair and beauty salon owners Louise Sage, Sarah Gredziak and Lauren Nassau. “I first saw it on the One Show and wanted to know what it was like,”

says Emma. “It’s definitely something different.”

To allay any hygiene concerns, clients are asked to fill in a form certifying that they have no foot health problems, before their feet are washed prior to dipping their toes in with the Garra Rufa fish.

The water in each tank, where around 150 of the piscatorial pedicurists swim, is filtered four times within the 15 minutes.

As I dipped my foot in the lukewarm water, I hoped the fish wouldn’t embarrass me by diving for cover or floating gasping to the surface, but about two-thirds of them instantly swam up to nibble at my feet. It was like a gentle, tingling massage; very pleasant and relaxing.

But what happens when they’re not hungry? Do they just go on strike?

“They’re not actually eating the dead skin, just removing it,” explains Emma. “We do have to feed them.”

So for the Garra Rufa fish it’s more like a day job, than a permanent feast. But they seem to enjoy it. And so does co-owner Lauren’s partner.

“He’s a semi-professional footballer and his feet take a real battering. He’s a fan,” she says. “In fact, we’ve got some of the town’s footballers coming in to try it next week. It’s also great for dancers and shop workers, who spend hours on their feet. The fish work on reflexology points, so it’s relaxing, and it really softens hard, calloused skin. It’s such a natural treatment.”

When they first arrived, the town’s inaugural batch of doctor fish were a little travel sick. “We were really worried,” says Emma. “They just didn’t want to do anything. Now they’ve settled down and are working very hard to make people’s feet feel much nicer.”

After 15 minutes of perfectly pleasant piscatorial pedicure, my feet were dried and Lauren applied some foot cream. “A lot of clients opt for a full pedicure once the fish have done their work,”

she says.

Sadly, I was in too much of a hurry to stay, but I thoroughly enjoyed my encounter with the befinned beauty therapists. And, no, they hadn’t been fishing for compliments.

■ The treatment costs from £15 for 15 minutes, £22 for 30 minutes. The salon has two side-byside tanks. Gift vouchers available. Pescado Pedicure, Indulgence, 7 Skinnergate, Darlington DL3 7NB. Tel: 01325-288-927;