PET owners might be surprised to hear the RSPCA encouraging them to give chips to their cats and dogs - but it's all in a good cause.

August is National Microchipping Month and events are taking place across the country to convince owners to sign up to the scheme which has already tagged 750,000 pets.

The RSPCA will be bringing the tour to the Bury branch at Regan's Vet Clinic, Rochdale Road, on Saturday.

The simple procedure implants a digital chip no bigger than a grain of rice in the scruff of an animal's neck and the unique number on the chip allows the owners of tagged animals to be traced using a national database.

Regional manager Alan Wolinski said: "The RSPCA has been able to reunite cats and dogs with their owners months or even years after they first went missing thanks to a microchip.

"But all too frequently we have to find new homes for animals without chips because there is no way of tracing their owners."

The Bury event, from 9am to noon, is by appointment only and the £10 charge includes a health check. Contact branch administrator Mandy Tierney on 0161 766 1414.