A HYNDBURN animal charity has been held up as an example of good practice by one of its national counterparts.

Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need was invited to a special dinner held by the National Canine Defence League to highlight its work to other charities.

It was singled out for its work in microchipping dogs. The charity, set up in May 2002, has microchipped 450 dogs since it was formed, and holds monthly sessions for pet owners to use the service.

The event, to mark three years of the NCDL campaign to reduce the number of stray dogs, took place at Manchester's Britannia Hotel last week, with more than 100 people representing charities, dog wardens and local authorities from across the north west.

The region is one of four identified as the worst hit areas in Britain along with the north east, Wales and Northern Ireland, and the campaign has been running in those areas since April 2000.

Steve Wood, Hyndburn Council's dog warden and welfare officer for Hyndburn Stray Dogs in Need, was invited to speak to the guests.

"It was a fairly prestigious event and we were addressing other charities. I was over the moon. We were treated like royalty," he said.

David Wright, NCDL North West campaigns manager, said: "This is one of the best partnerships we have established in the north west, in fact throughout the whole country.

"If other local authorities and charities operated in a similar manner, they could not go wrong and we would be able to reduce the number of stray dogs destroyed."

The next HSDN microchipping session takes place from 10am to noon on Saturday, April 19 at Pet Warehouse, Oak Street, Oswaldtwistle, and costs £9.50 per dog.

The group annual meeting is being held tonight at 8pm at the Park Hotel, Park Road, Great Harwood.