A HEXHAM-based charity is searching for new volunteers.

Wag and Company was formed by volunteer CEO Diane Morton in 2016 and is appealing for new volunteers.

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Since forming, the charity has made some 90,000 friendship dog visits to people who can no longer have a dog of their own, because they are in care or are too disabled to look after them.

The charity has around 400 professionally-assessed Visiting Wag Teams, visiting those in need everywhere between North Yorkshire and the Scottish Borders.

Wag and Company received the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and has the Duchess of Northumberland as its patron.

Dogs must be at least 18 months old, have a good temperament, love cuddling and be under control.

All dogs are assessed for suitability by qualified trainers, Kennel Club accredited instructors, or members of the Animal Behaviour and Training Council including members of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers, or they can be individually assessed and accredited by other senior Wag assessors.

Wag volunteers receive help and support, helped through DBS checks, have uniform supplied including the Wag bandana for their Friendship Dogs and they’re insured. Usually they give up two hours most weeks and matched to people close to their own homes to make it convenient to fit in with their lives.

CEO Diane Morton said: "We have huge demand for what we do now as we've got more than 220 care homes, hospitals, and hospices on our waiting list and around 20 home placements that we need to find lovely Visiting Wag Teams for.

"We always look to match our home placements first as they are generally people who are more isolated, living on their own and with more complex health issues.

“Anyone that could give a couple of hours a week to share their time and their dog with an elderly neighbour would find it one of the most rewarding things they've ever done. You meet some great people with great stories and life experiences to share. They're obviously huge dog lovers too and many have had a whole life of loving different dogs and breeds and they're going to love the one that comes and visits them once a week too."