A HISTORIC Blackburn pet care company has announced a new partnership aimed at using pets to help people's mental health.

The deal will see Blackburn-based Bob Martin work alongside Pets As Therapy to help raise awareness about the mental and physical support that pets can provide.

Bob Martin, owned by Whitebirk Industrial Estate headquartered Pet's Choice, will use its voice in the industry to help recruit new employees for the charity, to find new volunteers and to raise its profile across the UK.

Pets As Therapy national volunteer and events manager Matthew Robinson said: "We’re thrilled about our partnership with Bob Martin as they value the vital support that animals can provide to our service users.

"The company’s generous support will help us to raise awareness of the services we offer and allow us to continue supporting our service users across the country."

Pets As Therapy has provided animal visits for people in need of mental health care since its foundation in 1983.

The charity's volunteers have worked hard to health and wellbeing in the community, with volunteers visiting hospitals, hospices, prisons, care homes, schools giving people the chance to play with pets sich as dogs and cats ever since.

They say that this can be hugely beneficial to recipients mental health and has even been shown to improve aspects of people's physical health such as their blood pressure and heart rate.

Bob Martin meanwhile has provided vet healthcare for pets since 1892 and offers flea, tick and worm treatments are available at its stores and at local and national pet retailers and supermarkets across East Lancashire and the UK.

It was taken over by Blackburn pet food manufacturer Pet's Choice in 2019, which has continued using the historic Bob Martin name ever since.

The partnership with Pets as Therapy is another step in the company's growth strategy which has seen it acquire more than 12 other pet brands in recent years.