A lifelong dream has been fulfilled with the opening of a new family-run pet shop.

Pet Attractions is the passion project of 21 year-old Charlotte Olde and the latest addition to Gravesend’s St George’s Shopping Centre.

Charlotte opened the store using money from an insurance payout she received following a serious car crash in December 2008, and is running the business with the help of her family.

The accident was in Four Elms Hill, Chattenden.

Charlotte said: “I was going round my mate’s house and was getting ready to cross the road. The light went green for me and as I walked out another car came over and hit me.

“I had to go back to basics — I am still recovering and will be for the rest of my life. I will never be as I was.”

“Charlotte passed all her stuff at college with flying colours and then decided to open her own pet shop." - Charlotte's sister, Donna.

Despite the trauma of what happened, which has left Charlotte nervous around new faces and unwilling to go out without her family, she has not allowed it to stop her from pursuing a career with animals.

She completed a three year animal management course, much to the delight of sister Donna.

Donna said: “Charlotte passed all her stuff at college with flying colours and then decided to open her own pet shop.

“This shop became available and we liked the interior and the location of it. Other pet shops just want to sell as much as they can and get you out the door, but we want to be different.”

Pet shops have been part of the Olde family for years. Charlotte’s parents met in one in Strood and dad Phil planned to set up his own before suffering a heart attack.

He is now helping his daughter at Pet Attractions and hopes business will boom once the animals arrive.

"I have always been into animals since I was a kid It is nice to put a smile on people’s faces – a lady came in with an injured rabbit and I helped her give it a health check." - Charlotte.

He said: “It has been hard — we have got a licence to be sorted out so we have no animals at the present time. The vet is coming to inspect it and hopefully we will get our certificate to have animals.”

Charlotte is hoping to stock tropical fish and other exotic creatures, as well as fluffier pals like rabbits, hamsters and gerbils.

One certainty is that they will be in extremely safe hands once they arrive.

Charlotte said: “We are not just about the money, we are about the animals.

"I have always been into animals since I was a kid It is nice to put a smile on people’s faces – a lady came in with an injured rabbit and I helped her give it a health check.

"She feels she can come in here and ask for advice, which is really nice.

“The animals we have will be kept upstairs, away from all the noise where it is nice and quiet.”

Until then, Charlotte and her family are still enjoying the satisfaction of having opened their own shop which offers a range of pet food, accessories, cages and carriers at discount prices.

Pet Attractions is open from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday and 8.30am to 5.30pm on Saturday.