A CHESHIRE police officer is giving up her career in the force to open a dog grooming salon in Holmes Chapel.

PC Lesley Long, 38, who works with Macclesfield Police, is giving up a decade of policing to follow her dream of working with animals.

Woofleys Dog Grooming Service, will open on Monday, February 27 at 4 Church Walk in the village centre.

During her time with the force, Lesley has also been working as a mobile dog groomer and has already established a loyal clientele.

She told the Guardian that the decision to change career happened quickly thanks to a unit opening up in the village.

“Before I joined the police I was a veterinary nurse for 10 years,” she said. “I worked at various practices up and down the country.

“I have really missed working with animals, and I have been working on my mobile stuff for two years now, grooming mobile in the house so I have already managed to build a good clientele across Cheshire and Staffordshire.

“It all came about really quickly. One of my customers and I were having a laugh about it, and then a unit came up for rent. It used to be a dog grooming salon years ago.”

Lesley, who has two Bichon Frises called Buster and Bertie, a horse and a cat, has spent a lot of money setting up the business from scratch.

She added: “I am quite apprehensive as it’s going into the unknown, but I am really excited at the same time.

“I have already had a number of enquiries so I am hoping I will be quite busy.”

Lesley will host an open day at the salon on Saturday, February 25 and she is inviting people to come along and bring their dogs for any advice. Guests will be given goody bags with 10 per cent discount vouchers for Woofleys.

For more information about the services, visit cheshire-dog-grooming.co.uk