A dog lover has set up a luxury grooming salon for pampered pooches in Witham.

Hannah McKenzie, 29, who has several years experience working at other salons, has opened Arnie's of Essex, in Enterprise Court, on the Eastways Industrial Estate.

Inspired by her ten-month-old Miniature Goldendoodle Arnie, Ms McKenzie is hoping to provide a more tailored experience for the district's pets.

Arnie is the inspiration behind the business

Ms Mckenzie said: "When I take my dog to the groomers it sometimes seems it is about the money rather than the love of it.

"I want the salon to be one on one and we do not cage any of the dogs.

"I want to provide the kind of service for every dog I would want Arnie to receive somewhere else."

Ms McKenzie, who lives in Suffolk, first completed her dog grooming qualifications ten-years-ago.

She worked at a busy salon near her home for three-years, before branching out to become a veterinary nurse.

"Unfortunately after five years of that I had to change jobs due to personal circumstances and I became an NHS nurse," she said.

"I loved doing that, but with the strain on the NHS and some health problems things were taking its toll on me and I had to leave.

"I really missed dog grooming so I wanted to get back into it."

Ms McKenzie and Miniature Goldendoodle Arnie

Her partner, Steve James, had a unit coming up for rent on the Eastways Industrial Estate, and so Ms McKenzie decided to take a leap of faith.

The premises underwent a fast-track, five-week refit in order to ensure it was ready for opening on Saturday, September 15.

She said: "My partner used to rent the unit out to another business but the lease was coming to an end and they decided not to renew.

"I would really love to thank him, his family and my family for all their help as this all wouldn’t have been possible without them.

"I am fully booked until the middle of October already.

"I was not expecting it to go quite as well as it has so far."

Visit www.facebook.com/arniesofessex.