A LOCAL hedgehog hospital is putting out an appeal for donations after being inundated with wildlife orphans.

During spring and summer, The Wildlife Orphanage, based in Barlby near Selby, has had an influx of baby birds and hedgehogs, which have struggled to find food once their parents stop feeding them.

Annette Pyrah, who runs the rescue, said: "We have had a family of seven great tit babies, whose nest box was facing south.

"The babies were being baked to death and the parents, realising that the babies were doomed, abandoned them.

"Thankfully their hungry cries were heard and they were brought into the rescue where we managed to successfully rear and release all seven.”

The Rescue has also acted as a maternity ward for a very special wild albino hedgehog known as Twinkle.

Annette said: "Twinkle has always loved her food and is a very big hedgehog, but when she went over 1000g we thought there could only be one reason.

"Two days later Twinkle gave birth to four tiny hoglets. The little hedgehogs are all normal coloured and can be released into the wild.

"Twinkle, on the other hand, is so glaringly white that she will only be safe in an enclosed garden with plenty of undergrowth."

Annette runs the centre from her home with the help of three volunteers and said that 2012 has been her busiest year yet.

Baby birds need to be fed every 30 minutes from dawn till dusk, so 16 hour days have been the norm.

As a result, the volunteers have been too busy to attend fundraising events and are now struggling to feed all the new arrivals.

They are asking for donations of meaty cat and dog food, peanuts, dried meal, worms, bird seed, suet balls, kitchen rolls and any small unwanted gifts that can be used in a tombola.

Donations can be dropped off at The Wildlife Orphanage, Low Mill, York Road, Barlby, YO8 5JP.

For information and advice on what to do if you find an abandoned wild animal go to www.wildlifeorphans.co.uk.