PET rescue took on a whole new meaning when a Farnworth nursery school played host to two visitors from Bosnia.

Bridgewater Nursery, in Dobhill Street, welcomed child psychologists Alma Taso and Irena Dumic as part of an Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-inspired scheme aimed at teaching children to respect and care for animals.

Marie Charlton, headteacher, said: "We have a vets' corner in the school where the children can play the part of vets and tend for animals."

The school's animal magic has been so successful it has been recently mentioned in Ofsted annual roll of honour gaining top marks in personal and social development.

The visit by the Bosnian experts was organised by Bolton-based RSPCA regional educational officer Sue Dawson, who has visited Bosnia.

She said: "Some schools have adopted dogs in a bid to refamiliarise children with them and there are a number of very small animal welfare centres being established.

"Some children had seen their parents killed and refused to interact with anyone but when we got them involved with the project they became different people. The psychologists were here to see how successful the scheme has been here."