Winchester City Council's Animal Welfare Team has retained its elite double Platinum award from the RSPCA.

The council was awarded Platinum PawPrints for both Stray Dog Services and Animal Activity Licensing.

Winchester City Council is one of only four councils in England and Wales to achieve Platinum status for Animal Activity Licensing.

The PawPrint Awards recognise organisations demonstrating exceptional dedication, compassion, and innovation in their efforts to protect, promote, and enhance the lives of animals.

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The Platinum PawPrint is presented to organisations who have received Gold PawPrints for five or more consecutive years.

Cllr Jackie Porter, the council's cabinet member for place and the local plan, said: "The retention of both of these RSPCA Platinum PawPrint awards is an outstanding achievement and once again demonstrates that the council’s animal welfare team is among the very best in the whole country – we’re one of only four local authorities to have achieved the Platinum PawPrint for Animal Activity Licensing.

"The team works incredibly hard all year round – there are over 100 premises licensed for animal activity which are inspected each year, and around 100 stray dogs are reported each year – and this award recognises their continued excellence and very high standards.

"Well done to our dog wardens and the rest of the team."