BURRS Country Park will be the the new host of a major dog festival this summer.

Dogs Trust Manchester is bringing its annual doggie fun day to the park for the first time, and is hoping local dog-lovers will spare a few hours to help make it the best ever.

The event, which attracts thousands of visitors and hundreds of dogs every year, will take place on Sunday July 7 and will include fun and games for all the family including the ever-popular fun dog show, with classes such as Waggiest Tail and Scruffiest Companion, along with have-a-go agility, doggie dash, games for everyone, raffles and tombolas.

The rescue centre is looking for volunteers to take on various roles including setting up and staffing stalls, serving refreshments, selling raffle tickets and giving out prizes as well as looking after two and four-legged friends to make sure everyone has a great day.

Spokesman Nicola Hardman said|: “Volunteers are extremely important to us as a charity and we would love people from Bury to help us out at our fun day.

“Last year we had to cancel the event due to the incredibly hot weather but with the help of volunteers we can hopefully make up for missing a year.”

She added: “We look after around 80 dogs at any one time at Dogs Trust Manchester, every day of the year and every penny raised goes towards making sure they can have everything they need whilst they are with us waiting for their forever homes, so we hope lots of dog lovers come on board.”

Previously, the event has been held at Heaton Park.

Miss Hardman said:“Burrs is such a beautiful park and is of course really popular with dog walkers so it’s an ideal venue for us.

"The Fun Day is a really big event and Burrs has lots of space which we will definitely be able to make the most of. We are really looking forward to holding our Fun Day at Burrs and hope Bury dog lovers come and join us!”

The event runs from 11am-4pm. If you would like to enquire about volunteering, please call Nicola on 0161 337 3605 or e-mail her at nicola.hardman@dogstrust.org.uk

n Dogs Trust is the UK’s largest dog welfare charity and cares for 15,000 dogs across its network of 20 rehoming centres in the UK and one in

Dublin. It has a non-destruction policy, and will never destroy a healthy dog.