Dog groomer Chrissie Stallard, whose client list read like a Who's Who of local celebrities, has died aged 97.

The much-loved mum of two was devoted to dogs from the start, when she had her first childhood pet Tiny, a smooth-haired terrier.

But her career began when she was given a white poodle puppy shortly after her wedding to Stuart at Tewkesbury Abbey in 1948 and learned to clip and groom her.

Born Patricia Christine Brunt near Bradford on Avon in 1925, she became a familiar face in Malmesbury after she and Stuart settled there.

The couple went on to have two sons, Mark in 1958, and Paul in 1962.

In the late 1970s, Christine started her own full-time dog grooming and dog boarding business.

This proved to be very popular and some of her customers were household names.

Her most famous client was Camilla Parker Bowles, now the Queen Consort.

Among Camilla’s pets was a royal Corgi gifted to her by the Queen, which Chrissie attended to.

In 1980 she was given a Pekingese dog by her husband, which triggered a passion for breeding dogs - mainly poodles and Pekingese.

When one of her pups flew to its new home in New York she insisted it went on Concorde to shorten the journey and that it boarded the aircraft as carry on luggage rather than in the hold.

Stuart dies in 1981, leaving Chrissie, as she renamed herself, a widow for 41 years.

She was well known in Malmesbury, where she was easily recognisable as she always wore something blue - her favourite colour.

At the age of 96, she moved to Hill House Care Home at Little Somerford.

Chrissie is survived by her two sons, Mark and Paul, and two grandchildren, Joseph and Roanna.

Her funeral is at Crudwell parish church on Wednesday, November 30 at 2.30pm with a wake afterwards at The Potting Shed.

Mourners are invited to join the family on wearing blue for the occasion.