Owners travel hundreds of miles for lido's dog event

Scores of dogs have been able to swim with their owners thanks to a lido's annual event.

People travelled from across the UK to take part in Sandford Parks Lido's, which is based on Keynsham Road in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, dog swim sessions.

The event is running over two consecutive weekends, beginning 12 October, and allows animals to enjoy the pool before it is drained for winter.

Nicole Mitchell, who lives in Taunton, said she hopes to return after seeing her Australian shephard swimming laps of the pool.

“It’s his first time at the lido. He loves the water and is very excited.

"He was a bit scared at first because he tries to judge how deep the water is. As soon as he knew how to get out, he was straight in there," she added.

The event is running over two weekends

Owners are encouraged to take a dip alongside their pets for some fun bonding time, or to help senior pups who might need more support in the water.

Ailish Pottecary said her dog, who was petrified of water as a puppy, now refuses to get out of the pool.

“He’s very social, he likes to play with other dogs, but when he’s in there his mind is entirely on the ball," she said.

She added the event was "like a community" where everyone looked out for each other's dogs and played fetch for hours on end.

Owners watched as their pups performed their best doggy-paddle

Ruby Jenkins brought along her three-year-old labrador Stevie for the third year in a row.

“She’s a bit feral in the water," she said.

"It’s a nice treat to be able to get in the water with the dogs rather than watching her swim in a dirty lake."