THE Royal Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) will be transporting rescued animals in Vauxhall Combo vans after ordering a fleet of 40.

The rescue service chose the Combo as it offers the option of extra seating and a moveable bulkhead to protect drivers.

RSPCA fleet manager Sue Wilkinson said: 'Before the Combo crew van was launched we used to buy Vauxhall Astra and Citroen Berlingo vans and add rear seats. But I was never happy about the lack of a bulkhead between passengers and driver.

'The new van meets our needs exactly and is perfect for the job. The twin sliding doors are ideal and our inspectors can use them to carry animals and equipment or more people as required.'

The new 1.7 DTi vans will boost the RSPCA's current 700-strong fleet and will run on a five year/120,000-mile contract.