Families should prepare themselves for a mass outbreak of fleas among their pets, according to the boss of Pets at Home.

Chief executive Peter Pritchard said the recent heatwave, followed by heavy rain, was the ideal breeding ground for the creatures.

He told PA: "In about three weeks' time, we will see a mass outbreak of fleas."

The store was urging pet owners to regularly check their pets and homes for signs of fleas as temperatures soared recently as the warm weather conditions created the perfect breeding ground for the parasites to thrive.

It comes as the boss also revealed that sales of cooling products for dogs were off the scale, as owners attempted to keep their pets cool in the record-breaking heat.

Mr Pritchard said: "Last week, we could not sell enough cooling products - cooling mats, cooling bottles, that sort of thing.

"We have to make that decision (to stock lots of cooling products) six months ahead. It's always a gamble but we always buy heavy on heating and cooling."