A HEDGEHOG rescuer is raising awareness after saving hundreds of the spiny mammals across Cleveland and County Durham.

Iris Davison, a member of the Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society who runs the Elton Hedgehog Rescue, in Darlington, has been rescuing hedgehogs since 1998.

She said: "I rescued a hedgehog from Durham on Sunday and he is at the vets at the moment with a broken leg. He had been caught up in garden netting for days.

"Hedgehog awareness week takes place from May 1-7 and if we don't educate people, especially children about them, they won't be around for future generations as numbers are in decline."

Mrs Davison is currently looking after several hedgehogs.

Cleveland Hedgehog Preservation Society rescued 340 hedgehogs last year, with 245 being released back into the wild.

"The RSPCA and local vets bring me hedgehogs as well," said Mrs Davison.

"In the summer they need the most help. I would advise people to leave out bowls of water for them, as milk and bread can cause diarrhoea and kill them.

"Hedgehogs are nocturnal and shouldn't be out in the daytime, if they are then they are probably ill."

Hedgehog hazards include bonfires, compost heaps, uncovered drains, lawn mowers, strimmers, netting, ponds and sheds.

For more information visit clevelandhedgehogs.org.uk.