HE looks like comedian Peter Kay but he earns his 'garlic bread' and butter saving animals!

RSPCA animal collection officer Jon Kerrigan is causing quite a stir wherever he goes thanks to his resemblance to the Bolton funnyman.

Whether he's out and about rescuing stricken animals or simply down the pub having a pint (of John Smith's naturally) he can't get away from people comparing him to the star of Channel 4's Phoenix Nights.

Luckily, he is an admirer of the comedian and, so far, the joke isn't wearing thin.

Jon, from Blackburn, said: "Every time I walk into the pub, the first words out of my mates' mouths are 'garlic bread!, which was from one of his live shows.

"They think it's hilarious, but I'm used to it now. I've never been to see Peter Kay live, but I've got one of his DVDs and I think he's brilliant."

Outside of his day job though, it's not such plain sailing for the 28-year-old.

Jon explained: "It makes life difficult for me as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army cadets. Trying to instill discipline in 12 to 18-year-olds, who take the mickey that I look like one of their favourite comedians, isn't easy!"

Jon works across East Lancashire and beyond taking in parts of Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

He is married to Pauline and they have one daughter, eight-month-old Niamh. Jon said: "My wife thinks it's great that she's married to a Peter Kay lookalike - although she says she wishes I had his money!"

ACOs deal with all sorts of animals - from cats, dogs, farm animals and birds, to the more exotic animals like snakes and iguanas. They do similar work to an RSPCA inspector - the major difference being that they do not get involved in legal work/prosecutions for animal cruelty or other related offences.

Kevin Hegarty, RSPCA's Lancashire spokesman: "Jon and the other ACOs that work for the RSPCA are a tremendous asset to the society.

"Jon does have a good sense of humour - but I don't think his jokes are quite up to the calibre of Peter Kay, not yet at least!"

In the last few years his rescues have included:

Lurkey the turkey that jumped from the back of a wagon, on the way to the slaughterhouse, just days before Christmas last year.

Swanny the swan, which crashed landed into a wall during his first flying lesson which got in trouble again a week later in December by getting stuck in an icy canal near Barden Lane in Burnley.

The rescue and successful release of an owl entangled in fishing line in the Ribble Valley.