Dogs found by members of the public can be taken to a 24-hour vet's surgery in Heanor. It had been mooted that stray pets should be housed outside the borough.

Ambivet, in Mundy Street, will accept dogs brought in by members of the public between 4.30pm and 8.30am when the council's dog wardens are not in work.

Vets at the surgery will check to see if the dogs are microchipped and keep them until a council warden can collect them and take them to kennels in Chesterfield.

The move is costing the council around £11,500.

It comes after responsibility for the out of hours service was handed over from the police to the borough council at the start of the month.

The initial plan after the change over was for the night-time drop off point to be at kennels in Ilkeston, but after dog-loving councillors were unhappy with the plan a scrutiny committee was set up to explore other options.

Amber Valley councillor Juliette Blake said: "Some of us were very concerned about the distance people would have to go to collect their dogs at night."

David Bailey, of Ambivet, said: "We are happy to accept the dogs over night. If people find a stray dog they can bring it in and leave it with us.

He ask that people called first if they found a stray dog.