Newport woman Caitlin Durham is barking up the right tree with her new venture, a dog grooming business based in the city centre.

Caitlin set up Short Bark and Sides after seeking advice from the Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme.

She said: "I suffered from anxiety in school which resulted in me leaving two years earlier than most to go to college where I completed two courses, art and design and business studies.

"I then intented to do a journalism degree but changed my mind and after that I spent a lot of time thinking about what I wanted to do as a life long career.

"I've had a love for animals, especially dogs, from a young age and began to look into animal and agricultural courses on offer locally and came across a dog grooming course. I decided to take the six week intensive course in Blackwood. I trained in an award-winning salon where I was taught how to groom, recognise common health problems in dogs as well as what is involved in the running of a dog grooming salon. I was certain from the first day of the course that this was something I was passionate about and wanted to do.

"After the course I got in touch with the Prince's Trust who signed me up for the Prince's Trust Enterprise Programme. This helped me understand planning and finance, navigating HMRC, pricing and managing money in a business. The aim of the course was to prepare me to write my own business plan and present it to three business people volunteering with the trust.

"I had to present my business plan and answer the volunteer's questions for them to then decide whether they thought I should receive a start up loan. My application was successful and shortly after receiving the loan I found a property and am now open for business."

Short Bark and Sides offers a professional dog grooming service, which includes bathing, blow drying, styling, nail trimming and ear cleaning. Caitlin is also able to suggest treatments to customers with dogs with common health problems.

She said: "I am very pleased with how business has been going. I am really enjoying my work and am starting to build up a very supportive client base. I love meeting customers and their dogs and building a bond and offering a helpful service. I have been so busy so far and hope to continue being busy."

Newport's Mayor, Councillor Matthew Evans, recently visited the salon to officially open it.