Couple's pet project set to get off the ground.

ANIMAL lovers can keep in touch with their long lost pets thanks to a new website launched by a Northumberland couple.

Richard and Julie Sharrocks have set up a site billed as a Facebook for animals, which allows pet breeders and owners to keep track of animals they have sold.

MyPetyourPet.com also means users can trace the parents, siblings and offspring of their pets as well as showcasing their own animals to the world.

The Thropton couple, who have been planning the website for four years, enlisted the help of Rothbury firm Lazy Grace to develop the site which features sections on horses, dogs, cats and birds.

Mrs Sharrocks said: "The idea for the website sprung from three sources. My mum once bred a litter of puppies and often wonders what became of them. My friends and I would reminisce about ponies we outgrew and my four-year-old son is fascinated by the fact that our family dog has brothers and sisters dotted around the country.

"We all had animals we'd love to trace, to read about and see pictures of. I sent a questionnaire to other pet owners and breeders early in the process to confirm that others shared our interests. The answer was a resounding yes."

Morpeth-based dog breeder Norma Turnbull said the site would be a good supporting tool to people like her who distributes litters to several locations.