A COUNTY wildlife centre is desperate for cash after being closed for almost five months due to the foot-and-mouth outbreak.

The Vale Wildlife Visitor Centre, near Evesham, has missed more than £1,000 a week in income for the 19 weeks it was closed.

Now managers are appealing for financial help for the centre, which re-opens tomorrow.

"We're appealing to the public to help us make a success of what remains of the season," said manager Jeff Wood.

"The visitors' centre, which supports all the sick and injured animals at Vale Wildlife Rescue, generated nothing for almost half-a-year but we were still having to care for, and feed, all our animals."

He said the centre, at Evesham Country Park, had been able to survive only because of the support of centre members and the public, and the income generated by a temporary charity shop in Evesham.

"Without the very, very generous support from the public, we wouldn't be reopening," he said.

The Vale Wildlife Centre houses British wildlife and exotic animals, with 70 different species in total.

"We have all the farmyard animals, such as goats, sheep, pigs and ponies," said Mr Wood.

"We also have foxes, hedgehogs, red and grey squirrels, and lots and lots of British birds."

More exotic species include iguanas, pythons, milk snakes, box turtles, cotton-top tamarins, Asian short-clawed otters and fruit bats.

The centre has been re-opened following advice from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Staff will be asking for co-operation from visitors to adhere to the department's safety guidelines.

Admission to the centre, which opens from 10.30am to 6pm, seven-days-a-week, costs £2.50 for adults and £2 for senior citizens and children under 14.