A DAY spent washing dirty dogs raised £164 for two charities.

Around 11 pooches around the Forest visited Maisie Mo Dog Grooming Training and Care Station, in Cinderford, to have a good scrub, with the proceeds split between Cheltenham Animal Shelter and CLIC Sargent, who support children and young people with cancer.

Dog groomers Kellie Pinnell and Ellie Stanford, both run their own businesses from home, and decided to hold the event to raise money for charities close to their heart. Their day involved de-shedding dog hair, washing and drying the dogs, cleaning their ears and clipping their nails.

Kellie, of Berry Hill, said: "We had products (shampoos etc) kindly donated from Animalology and Quistel and held the event at Maisy Mo in the middle of where we both work.

"I chose to support CLIC Sargent because I have supported a lot of cancer charity events this year including the Race For Life and a sponsored walk for pancreatic cancer, so I thought I'd do the dog wash for children in the area with cancer and leukaemia.

"The money we raised, for example, will pay for a family to stay in a CLIC Sargent home for four days while their child undergoes treatment. Ellie chose the Cheltenham Animal Shelter as we love animals so we can provide food and treatment for the animals in the shelter."

She added: "We would like to thank all who donated products and everyone who came to the dog wash to make it possible and to Maria (Edey) at Maisie Mo for lending us her unit. We hope to hold another in the near future."