Dereham Vets about to open on Shipdham Road in Toftwood

And Flo Scott, director of Dereham Vets, said she had been "blown away" by the number of people who registered and booked appointments before the centre had even opened.

The  Shipdham Road business was due to open on November 20 next to Toftwood Garden Centre, where Randells Garden Machinery was before it burned down in 2019.

Dereham Vets opens their new premises in the town. Flo Scott director of the practice with Phoebe, one of her staff's dog (Image: Sonya Duncan)

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Mrs Scott said: “It is really exciting to feel so well supported by the local community, and we can't wait to welcome all our new clients and their pets.

“It has taken two-and-a-half-years to find the perfect location, to design the practice, and kit it out with state-of-the-art equipment.

“It is brilliant to have the practice on the verge of opening, with an incredible team in the building.

"To feel it all come to life makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

Dereham Vets opens their new premises in the town (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Mrs Scott, 33, qualified as a vet at Nottingham University and has worked in Swaffham and Watton for the last decade.

The new practice includes six consulting rooms, an in-house laboratory, an imaging suite with digital X-ray, ultrasound and endoscopy, an operating theatre, a dental room, isolation facilities and separate dog and cat waiting areas and wards.

Mrs Scott has hired a team of seven employees, who she says have “a wealth of experience, having worked locally for many years”.

Inside Dereham Vets, which is opening their new premises in the town (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Mrs Scott said she wanted to set the business apart from other vets by having the same staff providing out-of-hours services on weekends and evenings - something she believes will give clients “peace of mind.”

The new practice, which is being supported by Westover Vets, will host an open day on Sunday, December 3, from 10am to 2pm, for people to have a tour and meet the team.

Inside Dereham Vets, which is opening their new premises in the town (Image: Sonya Duncan)Inside Dereham Vets, which is opening their new premises in the town (Image: Sonya Duncan)