A WHOLE host of pets in York have had portraits done as part of a new initiative - which has raised over £2,500 for charity.

The 'Badly drawn pets' scheme, set up by York organisation ‘Keep your pet’, involved the sale of drawings of supporters’ pets, including chickens, hamsters, dogs and cats.

Pet owners were asked to donate £10 to charity and email a photograph of their pet, which in return was drawn by one of the volunteer artists.

Jane Lund, one of the organisers, said: "The idea came from a rescue centre in America, which had shared some amazingly bad but funny pet paintings.

"Some of the artists are better than others but everyone entered into the spirit of the event and we haven’t had any complaints. It’s all for a good cause."

Starting out with a target of just £500, the initiative has raised over £2,500.

Keep your pet aims to help older and vulnerable people keep their animal companions, by looking after pets when their owners are taken ill or have a hospital stay, or walking them and aiding with feeding and vet visits when a pet owner needs help.