PET-LOVING staff at a building society office are doing their bit for animal charity the RSPCA.

Members of the public are being urged to back the month-long appeal being run at the Cheltenham and Gloucester branch in Durham.

Anyone visiting the premises during this month is asked to donate tins of pet food, which the RSPCA can use to feed strays taken in at its refuge centres and kennels around the North-East.

While the main need is dog food, cat food and any other kind of pet nourishment would help the cause.

Staff members, at the branch in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre, are keen to help the appeal, as many are pet owners.

Among them is mortgage advisor Lisa Pannica, who has two alsatian dogs, while customer services assistant Angie Paton is a cat owner.

The donations so far include three bags of animal feed, handed in by department manager Keith McDowell, from the Waitrose store in Durham.

As part of the appeal, the branch is also staging a coffee morning, with free tea, coffee and biscuits for anyone taking in tins of pet food, on Wednesday, March 15.

Further information is available from the branch, on 0191-384 4021.