FIVE veterinary practices in St Helens are joining naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham and Bristol University in a project to track the growing risk of Lyme disease.

The Big Tick Project runs through to autumn, tracking the rise of the tick population in the UK and finding out how many carry disease.

Dog owners in St Helens can take their pets to participating practices Medivet in Duke Street, Johnson and Wood in Tamworth Street, Earlestown; Newton Vets in High Street, Newton-le-Willows; Rutland House in Abbotsfield Road, and Bold Vet Clinic in Leach Lane for a tick check.

Any ticks found on dogs will be collected and sent to Bristol University laboratories to help advance the knowledge of tick-borne disease, benefitting both veterinary and human medicine.

Chris Packham said: "Research highlighted by the Big Tick Project experts at Bristol University suggests that ticks are a growing problem, especially in areas such as urban parkland, woodland or open country.

"While I find both ticks and fleas interesting creatures, I don't want them on my dogs, in my house, or on me."

Researchers say blood-sucking ticks are feeding earlier in the year and for longer - putting dogs and their owners at risk.

Tick bites can transmit serious infections, including Lyme disease - a serious illness that can cause long-term health problems in dogs and people.

By taking part, vets are helping the level of risk to dogs and people in St Helens to be identified, compared to the national average.

Ticks are hard to spot when small but can transmit infections as they feed off the blood of their host. Dog owners often see ticks when they have increased in size as a result of their blood meal but by then the damage may have been done.

Anyone wanting more information or a tick check for their dog can visit bigtickproject.co.uk or contact any of the five participating local vets.