A SWINDON man has launched a virtual memorial website for pets.

Although the idea has taken off in America he believes that his is the first British site letting people immortalise their pets.

Angeless Watkins-Gallar, 32, of The Prinnells, could very well have broken all records for getting a business idea up and running.

He said: "I had the idea for the business at 2pm on Monday and by 9pm I had the site launched.

"By 10.30 that evening it was being registered by 2,500 internet search engines."

He became a self-employed website designer last year after being advised to give up his labouring job when he tore ligaments in his back.

He was surprised to find nobody else has started such a site.

He said: "When I had the idea, I did a UK site search and there just isn't one."

The charge for registering on the site is £20 and the customer sends in a photo of their pet.

As well as having the photo placed on the site customers receive a certificate of remembrance for their pet.

Mr Watkins-Gallar believes the site will also appeal to people who have relatives living abroad, who will be able to log in and read the words of remembrance which go with each photo.

He lives with his wife Clare, stepdaughter Stephanie, 16, and a 16-year-old tortoiseshell cat called Jessie.

He said: "I have one cat now but I've had pets all my life. We become attached to pets and when they die it does hurt."

Anyone interested in the service should visit www.lovedpets.co.uk.

Dave Andrew