An animal rescue centre in north Shropshire has said it is struggling to survive as donations are so low and bills are increasing.

Grinshill Animal Rescue, near Wem, costs more than £40,000 a year to run and usually bosses have about £3,000 in the bank to get them through winter, but this year the account is ‘basically at nothing’ and staff have no more fundraising events planned until March.

Manager of the rescue centre, Jenny Martinez, said it had struggled before but things had never been this bad. The centre has been running for 22 years.

Mrs Martinez said the drop in donations coupled with the rise in bills had put staff in a difficult position.

She said: “We run totally on fundraising and donations from the public. It costs about £41,000 a year to run, plus about £8,000 we spend each year on vets.

“Bills have escalated, things like the heating bills, and overheads have gone up but money has gone down.

“I hope it wouldn’t go so far that the centre has to close, it is just a struggle.”

There are four volunteers and a number of dog walkers who help out at the centre. It can hold up to 18 cats and has room for 26 dogs.