ON BEHALF of Selby Wildlife Rescue, I would like to thank all readers who responded to my recent appeal for help.

Caring for poorly creatures through the long winter months is extremely costly. With an influx of tiny underweight baby hedgehogs and our finances almost drained, I made an appeal for help.

I am delighted to say the response was magnificent and in the true spirit of Christmas, food for the hedgehogs began to arrive together with logs and coal to help keep the wildlife cabin warm.

Selby Wildlife Rescue depends entirely on fundraising and donations from the public. We receive no government funding or grants, yet in 2014 we helped more than 400 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals and birds.

We are open 365 days a year and in the run-up to Christmas we were exceptionally busy, helping owls, hedgehogs, a fox and a swan.

Our smallest hedgehog weighs only 200g and to hibernate they need to weigh at least 650g, so many of them will remain with us until next spring.

Your donations will help these little hedgehogs so much.

Thank you again and may I wish everyone a happy New Year.

Annette Pyrah, Selby Wildlife Rescue, Barlby.