A VETS practice is driving a campaign to encourage people to connect via social media to help reunite lost and found pets with their owners.

White Cross Vets in Walkden is using its Facebook pages as an "invaluable tool" when pets go missing.

The firm, in Mayfield Avenue, has 12 surgeries throughout the UK, with each having its own Facebook page.

Clinic director Lorna Siddons, who heads up White Cross Vets, said: “We originally started our Facebook page to let clients see what goes on inside our practice, but an unexpected benefit is that it’s now commonly used to track down owners of lost and missing pets.

“The majority of pets, regardless of species and breed, are extremely inquisitive which means now and again they can become separated from their owners and end up lost.

"When this happens our Facebook page acts as a central point for worried owners to share photos and information with thousands of pet lovers in the area.

“Last month a bearded dragon was found in the street and brought it into one of our practices, within a few hours of posting about it on Facebook the community rallied and he was safely back at home with his owner."