WEEKS of hot weather have led to Oak and Furrows wildlife rescue centre facing the busiest summer staff have ever known.

They are looking after hundreds of animal patients and have launched an appeal for help in feeding them.

Founder Serena Stevens said: “It is manic here at the moment.”

Dozens of fledglings and hedgehogs are being cared for, as well as 18 fox cubs and two roe deer fawns. One of the fawns was attacked by a dog and the other, found in a field that had been harvested, was abandoned by its mother.

“We have had to take on extra staff to cope,” she said.

“The birds of prey pen is absolutely heaving. It is just very, very busy.”

She said one of the main reasons was the dry and hot conditions the area has experienced for days on end. Tiny patients were being brought in suffering from dehydration and they were also hungry.

Around 50 hedgehogs are also at the centre, the most it has dealt with in the summer than ever before. Many of the animals have been unable to find their usual food.

“We’ve had a massive influx of baby birds,” said Serena. “We have had so many herring gulls in, they are all jumping from the roofs because of the heat.”

Many different species of birds are being helped, including terns. “It’s the first time we’ve had baby terns. These came off the roof of the Four Pillars Hotel.”

Now the centre is asking for donations of tinned dog and cat food to give many of its patients like the foxes, hedgehogs and gulls.

Last winter the centre, which is based at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust’s Blakehill nature reserve near Cricklade, was inundated with hedgehogs. A record 168 of them were nursed through the cold weather.

Oak and Furrows deals with more than 3,000 wildlife casualties every year and takes between 6,000 and 7,000 calls for advice from members of the public concerned about wild animals.

Anyone wanting to give food or volunteer their services can call the centre on 01793 751412 for information. Money donations to buy food can be made online at justgiving.com/oakandfurrows