AN animal rescue centre has received a massive cash boost from a mystery donor to the tune of �10,000.

Elliot Furniss

AN animal rescue centre has received a massive cash boost from a mystery donor to the tune of �10,000.

The money, which makes up about a quarter of the annual budget for Wildlives Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Thorrington, will be enough to pay for a member of staff for the coming year.

Centre manager Rosie Catford said she and her assistant Maria and dedicated team of volunteers had cared for more than 1,200 injured or sick animals and birds last year and that work would now be able to continue for the next 12 months.

She said: “It's absolutely fantastic. Our sponsor who supported us last year to help employ somebody came to us at Christmas and gave us another cheque.

“He (the mystery donor, who does not wish to be named) is just very concerned about wildlife and the environment. He wants the wildlife to stay as it is now, to be passed on to his grandchildren.

“It still doesn't get us out of the woods with the running of the centre and we still rely on our supporters and donations for running costs and paying bills.”

Wildlives helps care for a wide range of creatures that run in to trouble and Ms Catford said the kind donation would help save many lives at the shelter.

The centre not only cares first hand for animals but also provides education on how to look after them, and on Wednesday Ms Catford fielded an unexpected inquiry from South Africa about how to care for an ailing newborn squirrel.

One resident set to benefit from the generous gift is nine-year-old vixen Maggie, who is brain damaged.

Maggie is just one of 150 animals currently living at the centre, although Ms Catford said that last year the team managed to return about 80% of its patients back into the wild.