Animal sanctuary pleading for more donations

A Somerset animal sanctuary is appealing for more donations in an effort to keep its doors open.

Ferne Animal Sanctuary in Chard said despite raising more than £67,000 since May, it still needs an additional £33,000 to continue to operate.

The charity looks after more than 300 animals on site, and has 10 staff members and a number of volunteers, but says its medical bills alone cost more than £6,000 a month and it has bedding costs of £2,000 a month.

A spokesperson for the charity said it also faced rising heating, shelter and maintenance costs.

Kevan Hodges, chief executive officer, thanked the generosity of people who have donated so far.

"We have passed the halfway mark in our target of £100,000 to see the sanctuary through the summer months, which is already making an incredible life-changing difference to our animals," he said.

"[But] We still have a long way to go, to ensure we can continue our animal welfare and care to the more than 300 vulnerable animals we home currently.

"Due to such difficult pasts, many of our animal residents are not suitable for rehoming, which puts them at greater risk if we are unable to maintain all our services as a charity."

Since it began in 1939, Ferne, which is one of the oldest animal charities in the country, has rehomed around 40,000 animals.

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