A wildlife charity has set up a shop in a bid to fund a huge demand for its work as more animals are handed in.

Yorkshire Wildlife Rescue is hoping its shop, selling household goods in Market Square, Shipley, will help finance its sanctuary in Keighley.

Long-term founder Marianne Crowley is keen to establish a new base on land where the sanctuary can expand. Last year it handled 388 animals “It’s a massive gamble but we have to do it – the pressure is so great on us in Keighley,” said Mrs Crowley, who runs the sanctuary from her home with volunteer help.

“I’ve been funding it myself but I need more income or we’ll go under. Vets bills, food and other expenses all add up.

“What we need ideally is a piece of land where we can expand.”

Her main work is in rescuing hedgehogs but the charity has now expanded as people have arrived with other animals.

“We had people dumping cats in baskets on the doorstep, and people have handed over rabbits, birds and squirrels,” said Mrs Crowley who has a licence to hold and release squirrels.

One of the most recent animals brought to the sanctuary was a cockerel which joined rabbits, owls, four crows, squirrels and ferrets.

Mrs Crowley is self-taught but gets lots of help from vets.

She hopes if she can establish a new base that her contact with schools and Craven College in Skipton – which is keen to send its students to see how the sanctuary works – could be expanded.

She is appealing for people to use her shop and help maintain the sanctuary and fund its expansion.

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A