A BUSINESSWOMAN has raised £20,000 in a week to alleviate the suffering of Australian animals.

Author and entrepreneur Hannah Russell, from Leyburn, North Yorkshire, was so moved by the plight of the many Australian animals caught up in the bush fires particularly the Koalas she resolved to do something to help.

Best-known for her books on miniature Shetland Pony Little Alf, Hannah is also a youth ambassador for “Brooke’s action for working horses and donkeys”, she has released eight books, has a biannual magazine, a clothing range and runs two shops.

She said: “I’d seen the bush fires on television over Christmas but a week ago I thought I should actually do something.

“I already have a clothing range for endangered Rhinos so I set about creating some appropriate clothing and it didn’t take long to come up with a few designs.”

Within a day of the range of products going online they had raised £2,000 which after a week rose to £20,000.

All the profits go to animal charities and Hannah also does all the incumbent administration work free of charge. She supports the charity WIRES-Emergency Fund for Wildlife and several smaller organisations to feed and rehouse the affected creatures. Although she has never visited Australia the animal-loving author who has 16 pets at the last count is not ruling it out. She said: “I am so pleased everybody is supporting me to help these poor animals.”

Goods including: hoodies, sweatshirts, mugs and coasters are all available from https://protect-eu.mimecast.com/s/gVRXCr8GGI59g22I7siLf or call in at her shop in Leyburn and Hannah can order it for you.