House auction saves animal home

The charity said the money will give it over a year of funding

The future of the Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary has been secured after a house left to the centre in a man's will was sold at auction.

A funding crisis had led the sanctuary in Stadhampton to consider putting down some of its animals.

An elderly man left the house to the sanctuary six years ago, but due to legal issues the sale had been delayed.

The house, in the Jericho area of Oxford with a guide price of £350,000, sold for £452,500.

Debbie Heath, chairperson of Stadhampton Animal Sanctuary, said: "It means we've got a really strong basis now to carry on.

"We're not being complacent as we don't really want to go back to the state we were in earlier this year, but at least we know we've got over a year of funding."

The charity said it had seen a fall in donations during the recession and was also receiving more abandoned animals.

The sanctuary was set up in 1967 and cares for over 300 unwanted pets.