Memories of the massive mynah bird at Walton's

And when we posted a 1994 photograph on social media of Walton’s - the pet and garden centre in town - we reached more than 16,000 of you.

We wanted to know what you thought of the place and you had some wonderful memories.

Natalie Salvin’s superb recollection said; “Hahaha! Phonecall home every Saturday “mam can I buy a fish?”

Lizzy Waller said she “used to get a 2p dog chew” for her pet while Julie Anderson commented: “Omg loved it in that pet shop lookin at the rabbits.”

Others had memories of the birds which greeted them on their arrival at the centre.

Julie Bartlett said: “They had a massive mynah bird when I was a kid...terrified me.”

And Donna Laws Caddick told us: “Best pet shop ever. Used to go in every week. Loved the macaw they had!”

Andrea Peart got her tortoise there and said: “It only cost £5.”

Beverley Simon “loved the sea horses” while Debbie Davison said she “wanted all the puppies lol.”

Chris Arnold remembered: “I bought 2 male gerbils from there which turned out to be one of each and had lots of babies. £4.60 a litter I got for them.”

Loads of you remembered the first pet you bought at Walton’s.

Yvonne Slater said: “We bought our first dog from there in 1988. A border collie and he was lovely.”

Catherine Oliver reminisced: “Aww we got our dog Sam from there.”

Judi Taylor told us: “Got my first puppy from here about 1978 she cost £2 xx”

Carole Maitland loved the place and said: “Got our hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits from Waltons. I’m sure they had a huge sea life aquarium as well?”

Gaz Payne added: “Got my dog from there 1981 ! Loved him to bits !! Our Titch.”

The responses just kept pouring in. Diane Liddle said: “Loved seeing the puppies when my mam was buying chocy drops for our dog Judy xx”

Val Ridgeway called it the “best shop in Hartlepool” while David Thornhill commented: “Loved Waltons. Remember going in with my mam.”

Adele Wilkinson said: “I loved this pet shop when I was little” while Richard Oliver said: “That brings back memories lol.”

Joan Tunnicliffe said she “Quite often called in” and Phil Addison conceded: “Yep I must admit my guilty pleasure as a child.”

Karen Johnson Armstrong worked there and said: “I had a Saturday job here...Mr and Mrs Walton were lovely people....”

And then there were the people who remembered Walton’s because they worked there.

Stephen Sewell said: “My first job was in this shop. Saturday boy then worked in the warehouse for them in Dalton Street.”

Ian Jeffries said; “I worked there. First proper job. Loved it.” Others to work there included Dorothy Lobb, Jean Robinson, and Helen Musgrove.