A PUB landlord is hoping to call time on stray pets being put down by launching a charity.

Stuart Neil, landlord of The Victoria, in Witton-le-Wear, is planning to set up Strayaid to help stray dogs and cats in County Durham.

Under existing guidelines, stray dogs collected by a local authority need only be held for seven days, and can then be put down if they have not been returned to their owners, re-homed or rescued by a charity.

The organisation would aim to intercept stray dogs after they had been held for the required time and before they being sent for destruction. The dogs would then be held in safe accommodation until such time as they could be re-homed.

Mr Neil said: "Strayaid, working alongside other organisations, will ensure that all the dogs that it is able to re-home will be checked by a veterinary surgeon, fully vaccinated, and treated for conditions such as fleas and worms.

"Although many people believe that they can do little as individuals to help these unfortunate animals, we believe that if enough people get together with enough resources, you can make a real difference."

He is looking for volunteers and people to become members of Strayaid.

Standard membership is £26. All funds raised will be used to help create the charity.

For membership application forms, write or call in to the Victoria public house, School Street, Witton-le-Wear, County Durham, DL14 0AS.