A national veterinary company has been launched in West Yorkshire.

Vets4Pets, the brainchild of Peter Watson, former Managing Director of Vision Express, aims to establish a network of 200 'partnership practices' in a few years.

The project, which involves private vets teaming up with the firm, has opened its first centres in Eccleshill and Bramley through the White Cross Veterinary Hospital.

Owner of the Guiseley based White Cross group, Vets4Pets Director Craig Harrison, said: "We are starting from these two practices, which will be re-branded, and then planning to spread out from Yorkshire throughout the UK and Ireland.

"The idea is that we provide the management support in terms of marketing, accounts and so on for the veterinary surgeons, to allow their practices to progress and provide high quality care."

Based on the same 'joint venture' concept Mr Watson introduced to the optics market, Vets4Pets aims to install state-of-the-art equipment at each of its centres.

Eventually, the firm plans to build purpose-built centres around the country, with the focus on providing high quality but affordable care.

"The overall goal is to treat the pet as a member of the family," said Mr Harrison.

"There will also be employment implications, because we will increase the number of clinics available and we will be looking for experienced young vets and qualified nurses and receptionists." Mr Harrison has been joined in the new venture by his son, Tim, the general manager of White Cross, who is now also Pets4Vets' Operations Director.