A VETERINARY surgery has moved into one of Bishop Auckland's landmark buildings - with the help of a fleet of shopping trolleys.

The Victorian building has stood empty in Tenter Street, Bishop Auckland, for more than a year after the post office moved to newer premises.

Now the 90-year-old building has become one of the biggest animal hospitals in the region, after it reopened on Monday as the new practice of Paul Wilson Veterinary Surgeons.

The practice only had to move from its old premises about 100 yards away, so staff transferred the entire surgery with the help of shopping trolleys borrowed from the nearby Asda supermarket.

Jane Wilson, from the practice, said: "We closed on Saturday and within 24 hours we had moved in, with the help of staff and husbands, boyfriends and other people, who just loaded everything into the shopping trolleys."

What was once a post office sorting room has been divided into a central dispensary, two operating theatres, x-ray rooms, preparation areas and animal recovery rooms.

A display chronicling the history of the building is on show in the reception area and is open to the public.