DAME Joanna Lumley has asked people to support a Vale of Evesham animal sanctuary as it faces closure.

The Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Middle Littleton, is struggling to meet its costs after they rose by 50 per cent while its income decreased by 50 per cent.

With funds "dangerously low" there is now a risk of the charity being forced to close if an additional £30,000 cannot be found.

The charity said over 600 animals in its care are in danger of being euthanised if the money is not raised.

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The charity's patron Dame Joanna Lumley has asked the public to support the fundraising efforts.

She said: "We do need your help and your support to keep the sanctuary going, please don’t forget them. 

“The Farm Animal Sanctuary has always treated each creature in its care as an individual.

"Janet Taylor knows them all by name and habit: what they like to eat, where they go when they are in a bad mood, how they leap about when they are happy and how wily they can be in preparing to breach a fence or nick someone else’s food.

"For this reason almost above all others, I love being the patron of such an enlightened set-up.

"Despite being on the brink of penury for much of its existence, it nevertheless continues to offer safety and a loving understanding to animals who have been thrown on the scrap heap."

The Farm Animal Sanctuary was established nearly 40 years ago by Janet Taylor, after visiting a livestock market and seeing sick, malnourished, diseased and deformed animals up for sale. 

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The charity is set to hold a festival on August 19 and August 20 to raise funds and highlight the work the charity does.

All of the money raised will be going to buy the sanctuary land to house the animals.

Tickets for the festival start at £5 for children's day entry and £15 for adults, with options to camp for the whole weekend as well.

For ticket availability and more information, visit thefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk/event/the-animal-freedom-festival.