AROUND 20 people came to the rescue after a woman from a Hedgehog rescue made an emotional plea for help.

Odette Beard from Hoggles Hedgehog Rescue said she had not been able to take a day off for nine months and asked for volunteers.

She said she was 'exhausted' and added: "Since September I have worked everyday, every hour for minimum of twelve hours a day.

"That's nine months of not been able to have a day off and most importantly not been able to recharge.

"I'm waking with no energy and full of pain before I even start the day.

"I'm now falling behind on so much including every day life jobs. My house is a mess and I just haven't got the time to get straight."

Ms Beard, who runs the hedgehog rescue in Wichenford near Malvern, said she was struggling to fit in basic household jobs on top of her commitments at the rescue centre.

She said: "I really am stretched past the limit now. There are releases to sort and injured coming in.

"I have Charlie who is going to need hydrotherapy shortly too. This all is going to take up time. There's tip runs, hay collections, paper collections, vets visits, food collections, cleaning, meds, dressing wounds, admin, charts, phone calls, facebook messages, emails and web messages, stalls coming up to raise funds. It's basically running a business on my own with still over 100 hedgehogs in care."

Since posting the plea on facebook, Ms Beard said: "I now have a list of around 20 people offering to help."

However the rescue may still need help to look after sick, orphaned and injured hedgehogs before they are released into safe areas in the wild.

Around two years ago, Ms Beard's single shed, with the help of family, was converted into a double shed so she could house up to 60 hedgehogs at any one time.

The rescue gives advice to those who might find a poorly hedgehog.

Anyone who can help, should contact Hoggles on 07909093975 or 01886 888984, or call Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre on 01386 882288.