LOCAL pupils will benefit from an animal welfare education after Scotmid partnered with the Scottish SPCA.

The retail giant announced plans to team up with the charity and educate the next generation of animal lovers.

Ayrshire animal rescue centres are now working with local Scotmids to raise £300,000 in a bid to fund the education programme in schools.

Store teams will take part in fundraising activities as well as raising awareness of animal welfare issues and opportunities to rehome.

These will include sponsored sporting challenges to zip slides and bake sales to help raise cash to smash their target goal.

Staff, customers, and the wider community will also come together to support initiatives like ‘pet of the month'.

Cherrie Laird, Scotmid Cumnock Store Manager, said: “We’re so excited to be partnering with the Scottish SPCA animal rescue and rehoming centre in Ayr to help raise awareness of the importance of animal welfare within our local community and find new homes for the adorable animals the centre takes in on a weekly basis.

"We hope our ‘pet of the month’ activity will encourage customers to help rehome animals as well as raise vital funds to educate the next generation of animal lovers through its schools education programme.”

Scottish SPCA Ayrshire Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre Manager Marion Hainey said, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to partner with Scotmid as their Charity of the Year.

“Our centre has lots of animals looking for their loving forever homes and we’re grateful for the opportunity to highlight these locally.

“It’s great to see Scotmid staff and the local community get behind us and help raise funds for Scotland’s abused, abandoned and injured animals and the work we do educating children and adults in the community on animal welfare.”