AN animal sanctuary in Woodland has been flooded with donations after appealing for help in The Northen Echo.

Ark on the Edge, run by animal rescuer Pat Kingsnorth, has been struggling after being swamped with unwanted pets and suffering from ill health.

And the charity was hit with a further financial worry after it was told the three doors at the back of the building needing replacing at a cost of £2575.

The refuge, based at Woolley Hill Farm, cares for unwanted, sick and abandoned animals and currently houses more than 100 with everything from kittens to a donkey residing there.

And after appealing for help in The Northern Echo, Ms Kingsnorth said she had seen a flurry of generous donations meaning she could now replace all three 20 foot doors as well as pay for some other necessary repairs to the roof and gutters.

“The donations have exceeded the costs of the doors and we have now got enough money to do other building works which we had not been able to do before too,” she said.

“I’m just completely and utterly gobsmacked and extremely grateful, I never thought for one minute we could get all these doors done so I’m just really humbled.”

The work, to be completed by Barnard Castle based firm S & A, is expected to be completed by January but donations are always welcome.

To donate visit https://www.charitycheckout.co.uk/1116552/Donate

For more information about the charity visit www.arkontheedge.org.uk or email Ms Kingsnorth at pat.kingsnorth@btinternet.com or call 01833630505 or 07970802286.