STAFF at a Bridgwater veterinary practice are celebrating after being named among the most rabbit-friendly vets in the UK.

Dee Collins from the Quantock Vet Surgery in Bridgwater was selected as one of the winners.

The award was decided by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, a charity which works to improve the lives of pet rabbits through education and campaigning, holds a list of 'rabbit-friendly vets' to guide owners.

Speaking about the achievement, Ms Collins said: “Our whole team has a passion for rabbit medicine and welfare, and so we are delighted and proud to win this award.”

To be on the list, vets must hold a practice membership of the RWAF and submit an application. Richard Saunders, the RWAF’s vet specialist, assesses each application individually, with practices receiving either a gold or silver rating.

The assessment has been made more comprehensive, covering areas such as pain management, diagnosis, whether the practice has a rabbit waiting area and ward, and the skills of the vets.

To promote the new assessment, practices that applied to be included in the rabbit friendly vet list were entered in to a competition to find the most rabbit friendly vets in the UK.

An RWAF spokesman said: “The two practices that are classed as highly commended, and our winners, are Dee Collins of Quantock Vet Surgery in Bridgwater, Somerset and Deb Stafford of Gilmoor Vet Surgery.”