A PET cremation business has major expansion plans that will see it grow beyond its County Durham base into Scotland and Teesside.

The Pet Crematorium is opening £1m premises in Larkhall, Lanarkshire, making the company the leading provider of pet cremation services in Scotland.

The family-run company is also looking for a base on Teesside to expand its North-East operations.

The Pet Crematorium, based at The Willows, on the Langley Park Industrial Estate, near Durham, was set up in 1983 and has been run by Andrew and Winsome Rogerson since 1997.

It has 21 employees and a fleet of vehicles serving an area from Leeds to Inverness, with business growing by 20 per cent a year.

The Pet Crematorium recently won a North East Business Internet Award for its website, created with the help of Business Link County Durham's IT support scheme.

Developed by Atomic Web Solutions, the website takes people on a virtual reality tour of the garden, premises and chapel of rest, and includes an interactive book of remembrance as well as a brochure, product information and personal tributes from owners.

"The website needed a very special approach as we wanted it to be part of our service to clients and not just a marketing tool," said Mr Rogerson.

"We work in a sensitive area, as people are extremely attached to their pets and the loss can be devastating."