A FORMER Honda worker decided to start a new career as a dog groomer after leaving the South Marston factory.

When the plant closed in July and made its 3,500-strong workforce redundant, Karen Webb turned her dream job of running her own dog grooming salon into a reality.

Though she was surprised by the car manufacturer announcing in 2019 that it planned to leave the UK, Karen saw it as a chance to plan a new business venture - The Mutts Cuts Grooming Salon.

The 46-year-old said: "I was shocked and quite sad really when I heard the news about Honda but I saw it as a new beginning and the chance to set up my own business.

“I just love dogs and being a dog owner myself, it’s the perfect career for me. I could have saved my redundancy money or spent it on something like holidays, or a car, but I wanted to invest it for our future.

“The new business meant my husband Justin’s ‘man cave’ had to go but he was so supportive and on board. Justin understands my passion for dogs and saw the investment potential in the business.

“Two years ago, we started to convert the room at weekends and eventually turned it into a modern dog grooming salon.”

The Haydon Wick salon is now officially open and the bookings have already flooded in. Karen puts her popularity down to the fact that she treats her furry clientele as she would want her own dog, Dudley, to be treated.

She added: “I understand what it means to be a dog owner. Dogs are part of the family, so I will always treat my clients as I would treat my own dog.

“I believe this means I provide a superior service. I’m extremely pleased with how it has started. I can see the business growing but no matter how busy we get, I will always provide the same caring, patient, quality and friendly service.”

The salon offers services such as full groom, nail clip, bath, de-shed, and blow dry. Karen works on a one-to-one basis unless dogs are from the same family. All equipment is fully sterilised between jobs.

She added: “We cater for all dogs. For nervous dogs we ask owners to come in 10 minutes before the groom to familiarise them with the surroundings. I am about to start a course on teeth cleaning,too.”

Visit themuttscutsgroomingsalon.co.uk or the Facebook page @themuttscutsgroomingsalon