Thornton Cleveleys is the next stop in the PDSA PetCheck tour.

Now in its seventh year, the UK-wide tour is on a mission to improve the health of the nation's pets.

The PetCheck vehicle will be at the following locations in September: Thursday 25 - Wyreside Visitor Centre, River Road, Thornton Cleveleys - 10am to 5pm, Friday 26 - Wyreside Visitor Centre, River Road, Thornton Cleveleys - 10am to 5pm, Saturday 27 Marine Hall Gardens, 500 The Esplanade, Thornton Cleveleys - 10am to 5pm, Sunday 28 - Marine Hall Gardens, 500 The Esplanade, Thornton Cleveleys - 10am to 4pm.

On board, a PDSA veterinary nurse will be offering free health checks to dogs; examining canine visitors' weight, teeth, eyes and condition of their coat.

PDSA senior veterinary surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury, said: "During the 2007 PDSA PetCheck tour the charity found that dog obesity levels had increased to a worrying 30 per cent, compared to 21% in 2006.

"Obesity can have serious health implications for our four legged friends, including heart disease, diabetes and arthritis.

"So, we are urging as many dog owners as possible to visit the PDSA PetCheck vehicle, to find out more about their dog's health and take advantage of a free dog health MOT."

For safety reasons, only dogs can be brought along to the PetCheck vehicle, but advice from the PDSA veterinary nurse is also freely available on other popular household pets, such as cats, rabbits, and other companion animals.

Owners are asked to keep their dogs on a lead and are reminded not to leave them in parked cars.

For anyone unable to visit the PetCheck vehicle, PDSA has a range of free pet health care leaflets available on its website which can be downloaded from www.pdsa.org.uk.

For further information about the PDSA PetCheck tour please call freephone 0800 917 2509 or log onto www.pdsa.org.uk.