PET owners and their animals are to get a new veterinary practice as their old one is to be demolished.

Shires Vets, on Bucknall New Road, in Hanley, will close at the end of May to make way for regeneration work.

Its services will transfer to a new base a couple of miles away at Hoveringham Drive, Berry Hill, while the surgery is closed for the weekend of Saturday, May 30 and Sunday, May 31. It will reopen on June 1.

The surgery is among dozens of properties being bulldozed in the area by Government agency Renew North Staffordshire.

Will Jeffels, small animal partner at the practice, said: "We are really excited about the move because we think it will provide a better environment for customers and their owners.

"It was quite difficult finding a suitable property but when this one came up in our catchment area we took it in the hope our existing clients would still come to us."

Shires Vets has been based on Bucknall New Road for more than three years, after taking over an established vets' practice which was on the site since about the time of the Second World War.

The company, which also has surgeries in Stone, Eccleshall, Gnosall and Loggerheads, spent a "considerable" amount of money refurbishing it.

Negotiations are still continuing into the amount of money the company will receive from Renew.

All eight members of staff will move to the new site.

The base on Hoveringham Drive was formerly occupied by a doctors' surgery and an occupational health unit.

It has been extended by about 50 per cent to make it a suitable size for the practice and is expected to offer customers better parking and access by public transport.

Mr Jeffels said there would be no break in service for customers.

He said: "We want to feel part of regeneration and give added value in terms of providing a friendly, professional, cost-effective veterinary service for our clients.

"On the last weekend of May we propose to have surgery on the existing site as normal on the Saturday morning, close the doors and move that weekend.

"We will be up and running at the new surgery on the Monday morning."

Vet Dawn McClung said: "We are looking forward to moving to the new practice and getting new premises.

"But time will tell whether it is good or bad.

"Some customers say we will be moving closer to them, while others say they are worried about us moving away from them.

"But we hope it will provide an all-round better service for clients."

Councillor Adrian Knapper, Stoke-on-Trent City Council's portfolio holder for economic development, said: "We have been working hard to help people through the process of relocating. In relation to businesses, we have employed an independent adviser to help people navigate the relocation process and to support and advise them on the wider issues involved in moving a business.

"We are delighted that Shires Vets has found new premises.

"Voluntary acquisitions of remaining properties in Bucknall New Road are continuing.

"We have been actively encouraging all members of the community to take part in the regeneration process."

The next stage in the process will be an open event at the City Waterside Community Centre in mid-May. People are invited to share their ideas on future options for the site once it has been cleared.