The sale of puppies without their mother present will be banned in a bid to end the “disturbing” trade of animals bred in puppy farms, Theresa May has announced.

The Prime Minister, who had two dogs during her childhood - a poodle named Tassel and a mongrel called Lucky - said she wants to ensure that families can enjoy the arrival of a “happy, healthy” puppy that has not suffered from maltreatment and cruelty.

The new legislation will require all sellers to show potential buyers the puppies alongside their mothers before the sale takes place, marking the biggest change in pet vending for 66 years.

The move is designed to stop people buying puppies online without ever seeing them, which is fuelling animal cruelty.

Licensed dog breeders will also be banned from selling puppies they have not bred themselves and online adverts will have to include the seller’s licence number, the country of origin and country of residence of the pet being advertised.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by animal charities who said it would crack down on a “despicable” multi-million pound illegal trade but warned that enforcement must be tightly monitored.

Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director at Dogs Trust said: “We’re greatly encouraged that the government is taking steps to address the breeding and sale of unhealthy and underage puppies.