DOG owners in Hereford are keenly lapping up a new canine hotspot in the city.

With walkers looking for a comfort break after their daily exercise, Chefspot – the area's first designated dog cafe – has got it licked.

Pooches large and small are welcome at the cafe on the Three Elms industrial estate, part of the Chefspot charity which provides workshops for those with learning difficulties.

Already regulars like Rocky, a wire-haired terrier and white Alsatian Spook as well as their owners are enjoying the benefits of this new stop off point.

Chefspot project manager Alison Hatton says the invitation to owners to bring their dogs while they enjoy a catch up over coffee is proving a success.

"We are a charity many for people with learning difficulties but as we're next to a massive dog walking area we wanted to see how we could make the cafe dog-friendly," says Alison.

After consultations with Herefordshire Council, the environmental health department gave Chefspot the go-ahead to allow dogs into a designated area of the cafe.

"It's already proving popular," says Alison. "There are no other cafes on this side of the town, and while there are cat cafes springing up all over the UK, we think we're unique with the first dog cafe in Hereford.

"This is great news for all local dog walkers and for those wanting to meet up over a coffee with free doggy biscuits for the dogs."

Chefspot is already patronised by a Healthy Living walkers' group and a rambling club, and now dog owners are beating a path to the cafe.

The one rule is that four-legged customers must be well-behaved and remain on their leads. Apart from that, the business is turning out to be a howling success.