by Sarah Mawhinney

THE grateful owner of an animal sanctuary near Bromsgrove, which had its fundraising stock destroyed by fire, has thanked kindhearted Advertiser/Messenger readers for their donations.

Maureen Lawless, from the Farm Animal Sanctuary in Stoney Lane, has been inundated with phone calls offering help and dozens of bags of clothes and goods have been dropped off at the site.

The Advertiser/Messenger's High Street office has also been used as a drop off point for bags and around £350 in cash and cheques has also been donated.

Maureen said: "The response has been great and I really want to thank everyone for all their help. We've had money stuffed in our letterbox including £20 from a 90-year-old and now have about £1,800. It is so nice that people care and want to help us.

"We have some good quality goods to sell so we are carrying on collecting items until we can re-open the shop. All the money we get will help to care and feed the animals straightaway, so it is a real help."

The sanctuary had stock at its charity shop in Rubery ruined or smoke damaged in a blaze earlier this month.

All cash from the shop was used to feed and care for the dozens of animals at the centre.

Maureen said she hoped the shop would re-open in about six weeks.

Farm Animal Sanctuary rescues sick and abused farm animals and gives them veterinary treatment and a permanent home.

Donations are still being collected and can be dropped of at the sanctuary, in Stoney Lane, or at the Advertiser/Messenger offices at 5 High Street, Bromsgrove.

Items can be collected by calling Maureen on 01527 870613.