British Airways is to launch a pet travel scheme trial, which allows animals meeting certain conditions to enter the UK without going through quarantine.

The six-month trial covers cats and dogs on flights into Gatwick airport from Barcelona, Rome and Bermuda.

"We are starting the scheme on a small scale to enable us to properly assess its success and hope to develop it from there," said BA world cargo managing director Gareth Kirkwood.

BA is taking advantage of the relaxation of the strict quarantine rules which covered animals arriving in the UK.

Running from June 25 to December 31, the BA scheme will involve the pets travelling as cargo in the holds of planes.

For more information, visit the DEFRA website, or contact the PETS helpline on 0870 241 1710.