AN ANIMAL sanctuary is looking for extra cash to care for its animals during the winter months.

Animal lover Cliff Spedding, 41, set up the Hope Animal Shelter at Whitecliffe Cottage, Skinningrove, about seven years ago.

He has been caring for animals since he left school at the age of 16.

Mr Spedding runs the sanctuary, unpaid, on an almost full-time basis with help from a couple of volunteers.

The sanctuary is home to all kinds of animals - including llamas, sheep, ponies, dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs.

But he fears the donations which keep the sanctuary going are drying up, and he is uncertain whether he will have enough food to keep the place going throughout the winter.

He said the floods which devastated the village last year meant he had to spend a lot of money on repairs.

Mr Spedding said: "Looking after animals is just what I have always done, but we are getting a bit low on funds and we are just trying to keep on top of things to get through the winter.

"But we have got a lot more fundraising activities going on."

Fundraising events include a bingo session for elderly people in Brotton and a tabletop sale at Carlin How.