Free cat neutering is available to eligible cat owners in Helston and other parts of Cornwall during May and June.

The cost of the scheme is being covered by the Exeter branch of the Cats Protection.

Eligible owners will be given a voucher to take to participating veterinary practices.

To qualify people must be either on means tested benefits, on a household income of under £18,000 a year, a full-time student not living at home, or a pensioner.

Cat owners who think they are eligible should contact the Falmouth, Helston and District branch of Cats Protection on 08453 712729 in the first instance, with their telephone number, plus the name, sex and age of their cat.

More details can be found in the advertisement on page 22.

Among vets happy to accept the vouchers is Rosemullion Veterinary Practice in Helston, Falmouth and Penryn.

The nurses also offer free dental checks for pets throughout the year and a free health check for any pets over seven years of age.

It is one of a number of schemes the practice is running at the moment.

Dog owners can get their pets microchipped for free throughout May, ahead of it becoming a legal requirement for all dogs to be chipped.

Meanwhile, as part of Rabbit Awareness Week, rabbit owners can have their pets checked for free with one of the nurses, with the majority of illnesses seen often preventable through a few changes to housing and feeding.