The owner of Swadlincote's Stan's Pals is calling on the local community to help the business celebrate this year's 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Tina Holmes' plan to commemorate the special anniversary with a party at the Midland Road shop for customers and friends has been scuppered by the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, she now intends to decorate the shop front of the animals are company with bunting and is inviting residents of all ages to put colouring pen or paint to paper and drop off or email pictures to display in the windows.

Tina told Swadlincote Nub News: "We love a party at Stan's Pals and like to celebrate when we can.

"We planned to commemorate VE Day, but clearly we won't be doing that now.

"I still wanted to mark this special anniversary in some way - so that's why I came up with a colouring exhibition.

"We will be hanging out the flags and decorating our windows in red, white and blue.

"We are asking local children - or adults if it's something that they'd enjoy - to draw a picture of their pets with red, white and blue borders or background.

"They can be dropped off at the shop during our revised opening hours, popped in the letterbox or, if they prefer, emailed to [email protected] and I will print them off.

"There will be prizes for the best ones and we will display as many as we can in the shop windows."

The town centre shop is currently open for pet essentials from 10am to 12 noon, Monday to Saturday, with free deliveries - usually dropped off the same day - within a five mile radius.

Products can also be purchased online Stan's Palsand delivered free, within five miles, using the code LOCAL.

Tina is restarting dog grooming next month (May), with strict social distancing rules in place. Appointment slots are filling up quickly and anyone who wants to book or more information can call 01283 210329.