Prickle of hungry hedgehogs arrive at rescue centre

Volunteers at the British Wildlife Rescue Centre near Stafford say the influx of new arrivals is down to the mild autumn.

Eight of the creatures are currently being temporarily housed in the centre's hospital facility They were all underweight and need constant care and attention.

Abby Gower, a volunteer at the centre based at Amerton Farm and Craft Centre, said donations of blankets and bedding would be most welcome.

She said: "We've had eight hedgehogs brought into us over the last few weeks.

"We're quiet a small animal hospital so that's a lot for us. This time of year we always get a lot of hedgehogs brought in.

"Because of the warmer weather, the last litter of the year has come quite late. Now the weather is getting worse and the ground is a lot harder because of the frost, they can't get worms from the ground so they are underweight."

When the hedgehogs were taken into the centre, they were all badly underweight.

To get them back up to their preferred weight, volunteers fed them cat food and dried meal worms.

Miss Gower added: "We are keeping them in cages in the hospital. When they are better and the weather gets a bit warmer we'll release them back into the wild again in the spring."

The centre, which offers rehabilitation to sick and injured wild animals and birds, is also in desperate need of blankets and bedding as winter creeps in and the days and nights get colder.

Miss Gower said: "We are in need of bedding to keep our rescue animals warm over the winter months.

"People can just drop them off at the centre. We're open seven days a week. We also need donations of cat food, fruit and vegetables."

Other animals taken into the rescue centre in the last few weeks include owls and other birds of prey.