Funding race for animal sanctuary

Owners of a County Durham animal sanctuary say they are in a race against time to raise £3,000 to make sure it stays open.

The Exotic Animal Welfare Trust, at Tow Law, has been in dispute with its landlord.

The sanctuary, where a crocodile, snakes and birds of prey are housed, was closed at the weekend

Peter Heathcote, who runs the Trust, said the money is needed for legal costs to fight a current eviction threat and secure its future.

He ran the Reptile Trust from his home near Burnopfield for 12 years before moving to the Tow Law site in May.

He said: "We have got to find £3,000 today. We have to do it.

"We have been given an emergency street collection permit and we will be out on the streets of Wear Valley for the next three days as well doing a house-to-house collection."