VALE Wildlife Rescue staff are appealing to local residents to help animals through the heatwave and donate any unwanted pet food to aid the recovery of the critters in their care.

In order to feed the animals currently residing at the centre in Beckford, the staff are going through around 140 tins of dog and cat food every day and are appealing for help.

Martin Brook, assistant manager at the centre, said: "We are issuing something of an appeal really to anyone who thinks they can give us a few tins of food to feed the animals we have here at present.

"There are collection bins in Tesco and Morrisons where people can drop off the tins or alternatively they can visit our charity shop on Vine Street in Evesham or come up to see us themselves."

As well as the food Martin is also asking people to look out for the animals in their gardens as the hot weather continues.

He added: "Mammals rely on eating slugs and snails but because of the dry ground they cannot find them. Putting supplementary food and water into the garden is a good idea so that animals such as birds and hedgehogs have got something to fall back on if they go hungry."

6 Care assistant Ang Smith with one of the hedgehogs at the Vale Wildlife Rescue who are asking for donations of good quality cat and dog food to feed the hedgehogs. jul06193 Picture by PAUL JACKSON