Horses and ponies at a Bradford rescue centre might have to be destroyed unless cash is found to help fund it.

Rivendell Equine Defence has been in financial difficulties since the foot and mouth epidemic and needs to find £5,000 by December to remain open.

The centre cares for horses that have been abandoned, ill treated or are too old to work, and is run solely by volunteers relying on public donations, adoptions and loaning out horses, as well as other fundraising activities.

It looks after more than 60 horses of which 26 animals in the worst health are kept at the centre in Westfield Lane, Wrose.

But it faces mounting vet bills and feed bills, forthcoming legislation that means every horse in the country must have a 'passport' by December - at a cost of £20 a time - and a reduction in visitors to the centre since the foot and mouth epidemic, said volunteer Suzanne Simpson, pictured with two of the horses at the centre.

"Horses are so fantastic, they give us so much, are loyal and they don't ask for much," she said.

"One of the horses at the stable, Big Tess, stands 5" 9 high. At six years old she rescued her owner after the river bank where they were walking gave way. She escaped unharmed but went back into the river to rescue her owner and damaged her legs in the process."

"We also have a chestnut pony called Sherry - she's gorgeous but her front legs are gnarled. We found her tethered and up to her neck in water.

"If we closed down, I can't see anyone being willing to take on horses like Big Tess and Sherry and it will be the end."

The centre will start its winter appeal tomorrow, with a tack auction at the Wrose Bull, Wrose Road, Shipley, from 8pm.

Anyone who wants to help the centre should contact Dianne French on (01274) 614087.