A KEEN fund-raiser and animal lover from Kidderminster will be raising money to help rescue ill-treated bears in China.

Dorothy Leighton, 71, of Hillside Drive, will run a stall in aid of the Animals Asia Foundation at the Riverside Charity Market in Bewdley.

The market will be held in Severnside North on Saturday, with several stalls in aid of different charities and organisations.

Miss Leighton, who has held fund-raising events in the past in aid of the RSPCA and the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, will be selling cakes and bric-a-brac to generate cash for the foundation's moon bear project.

The charity is working alongside the Chinese government to rescue 500 animals trapped in bear farms across China.

The animals are kept in cages so they can be milked for their bile, which is used in Chinese medicine.

More than 184 bears, known as moon bears because of the cream crescent markings on their chests, have been rescued so far.

Miss Leighton, who has also sponsored a rescued bear, called Freedom, said: "The poor animals are kept in crates so they can't sit up or stand up.

"Some bears are put in the cages as cubs and have to grow inside them. They really are in a dreadful state.

"We can't do much about what's happening, apart from raising funds to help the charity with their work," she added.

Once the bears are rescued they are given treatment for the injuries they have sustained as well as physiotherapy to help them walk again, at a purpose-built sanctuary.

The market will be open from 10am.