A popular veterinary practice in the heart of the Severn Vale which built up huge demand through affordable pet care has closed amid Brexit-induced challenges for recruiting new vets.

Armstrong Vets Ltd, based in Breadstone, near Berkeley, began to encounter staffing problems during the Christmas period, when the business told customers: "Ongoing recruitment struggles and vet shortages have made it difficult for our team to deliver our usual service over the last few months.

"For this reason, we are unfortunately unable to provide appointments over the Christmas period. Rest assured, we have taken steps to ensure that you and your pet can easily access high-quality veterinary care during this time."

Punchline-Gloucester.com understands that the closure comes in the wake of the retirement on Ernest Armstrong, in November 2022. The practice was incorporated in 2013 but began many years earlier, gaining huge popularity for its mobile service and lean pricing.

Susan Ballinger, a long-time subscriber and resident in nearby Stone, told Punchline: "We were very sad to see the practice close as the callout was always a cost-effective and relatively stress-free consultation. The surgery at Breadstone was also a really pleasant environment and the team were great."

In recent weeks, the practice has advised pet owners to consult neighbouring Gloucestershire vet team Wood Veterinary Group (WVG), which operates from Quedgeley and Longlevens, while visitors to the previous Armstong website are now permanently directed to WVG.

In a statement to customers on social media, spokesperson Anna Ellams, who is now listed as a senior veterinary surgeon at VWG, said: "I am very sad to be closing Armstrong Vets. The past year has been invaluable for me, and it was wonderful to have the opportunity to reconnect with grassroots veterinary care in a community setting.

"I hope to continue seeing many of our fantastic clients at Wood Vets, and I look forward to introducing you to the lovely, exceptionally capable Wood team members, who I worked with for many years prior to coming down to Armstrong."

She added: "I would like to thank the brilliant Armstrong team for all their hard work. It has been such a pleasure working with you."

Punchline has requested comment from WVG and more information on potential job losses, with 10 members of staff listed on the now-defunct site as "some" of the employees.

Meanwhile, the short supply of trained veterinary surgeons appears to have been a USA issue which has now arrived over here: the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee raised the issue in a letter to then-Defra Secretary, Steve Barclay, last May, warning that the UK vet shortage has worsened since an estimated shortfall of 11.5% in 2018. EFRA stated there was currently "no clear picture of the scale or nature of the shortages".

But in February 2022, the British Veterinary Association (BVA) has already warned of the impending crisis as a direct result of Brexit, flagging "a storm of workforce shortages following a drop in new EU registrants and a huge rise in demand for export health certificates".

Citing free movement as a key factor, the BVA drew on data from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons which showed that the annual number of registrants coming to work in the UK fell by 68%, from 1,132 in 2019 to just 364 two years later.

Since then, Sky News has reported that the shortage has tightened further still, warning that a "scarcity of vets poses a danger to protecting animal and human health".

Additionally, with a surge in pet ownership during the Pandemic adding to their bookings, the profession is also reported to be now blighted with burnout and exhaustion among over-stretched teams.

● Looking ahead, the newspaper Vet Times, however, optimistically reported last month that a 50% rise in registered practising vets, and 78% increase in the number of registered veterinary nurses, is likely to be seen by 2035.