West Midlands hedgehog plea gets to the point

The ball of needles is among hundreds of hedgehogs saved every year by West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue (WMHR).

The prickly customer is being looked after by Joan Lockley, who has been running the rescue centre in Cheslyn Hay for the past 15 years.

She rescues an average of 450 hedgehogs a year and is pleading with the public to join her in helping out the cute mammals as they come out of hibernation by giving them food and water, as well as taking action if one is injured or unwell.

The 71-year-old said: "The number one thing I'm trying to stress is people should never see a hedgehog out in the day.

"If people see them out in the day then there is something wrong with them.

"They are officially endangered due to a loss of habitat as more housing, supermarkets and roads have been built and now as they're coming out of hibernation, they're very thin and very weak because they've used all their fat up."

Mrs Lockley looks after and cares for the animals until they are fit enough to return to the wild.

She added: "I've got about 15 at the moment. The most I've had at one point is probably 61.

"I either go out and collect them when I can or my vet rings me up when it's been reported.

"As soon as I get one I examine it, get rid of any ticks and refer it to the vet if it needs medical attention.

"They're not aggressive and everyone thinks they've got flees but very few do.

"If they people see one in distress or during the day I urge them to pick it up, and not to leave it - the longer you do there's less chance of saving it."

WMHR is always in need of donations including tinned cat or dog food, newspapers and feeding syringes.

Anyone who can help should go to www.wmhr.org.uk or call Mrs Lockley on 01922 419532.