THE owner of an animal rescue centre is worried that unwanted pets will suffer because she is being forced to take down signs leading to her shelter.

Kate Wilson feels that Ramshaw Rescue is so secluded that without the signs people who want to give an abandoned animal a home will not be able to find it.

Mrs Wilson said: "I'm in such a quiet place some locals don't even know I'm here.

"I do my best to help unwanted animals find new homes. If people cannot find me they might give up so animals will miss out on new owners.

"People come from all over and need to find me, I'm the only place in County Durham that offers horse and donkey rescue.

"To date, I have helped around 5,000 dogs and 200 horses, which shows how busy we are every day of the week."

Mrs Wilson does not believe the four home-made signs directing drivers to the site, between Spring Gardens and Ramshaw, near Evenwood, are obstructive to road users.

The signs, by the A68 junction with Hartbrigg Lane and on the lane leading to the centre, have been in place for almost eight years without complaint.

But Durham County Council has asked her to remove them because they are unauthorised.

A council spokesman said: "The signs in question do not conform to traffic signs regulations and permission has not been given to place them within the highway or affix them to highway furniture.

"The council has received a complaint about the signs so must act to ensure all highways regulations are complied with.

"Once removed, Mrs Wilson could apply in the normal way to try to have signs legally erected."

Mrs Wilson said: "This is a really busy time of the year, and if the council make me take them down before I can try to have proper ones erected, lots of potential pet owners and animals will miss out."