Animal rescue charity's cash plea

An injured badger is rescued by from Newhaven by the WRAS

An animal rescue charity is appealing for cash for a critical care unit to cope with a big increase in call outs.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) based in Eastbourne said it was looking after three times as many fox cubs as before.

Spokesman Trevor Weeks said they had also dealt with as many deer call-outs since January as for the whole of 2006.

The charity is calling for £15,000 for equipment for the unit which it hopes will help cut costs.

Mr Weeks said the WRAS had been a victim of its own success.

He said: "Most people don't realise that most vets charge WRAS for treating casualties and all vets charge for operations and specialist treatments or tests.

"We need £15,000 to equip the unit so that we can save money in the long run and reduce our monthly vet bills right down."

The aim of the WRAS is to reduce suffering and deals with a variety of animals from small birds to swans, mice and badgers.