ANIMAL lovers who wanted their furry friends microchipped overwhelmed the RSPCA's Altham sanctuary.

More than 250 pet owners arrived to have the permanent identity tags injected into their animals' necks during the charity's microchip promotion day.

Manager Jeanette Ainscough said: "It was organised chaos. We had an absolutely unbelievable response and we nearly ran out of chips."

The chips, which are the size of a grain of rice, can be injected into any animal and the number is then recorded with the owner's name and address on a computer database in London.

A stray animal's neck can be scanned to find the chip's number, so the pet can be reunited with its owner.

The shelter at Whinney Hill Road, Huncoat, is holding an open day on Sunday with pony and trap rides, a bouncy castle and other attractions.

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