Flood causes 'chaos' for animal charity

Flood waters rushed into the kennel area with the animals having to be moved quickly

Flooding has caused "chaos" at an animal charity, with dozens of cats and dogs having to be moved to safety.

Heavy rainfall at Wetheral, near Carlisle, on Saturday saw staff at the Oak Tree Animals' Charity rush to clear kennels and the cattery.

Though no pets were harmed, bedding, equipment and food has been lost.

An online fundraising appeal set up by the organisation has so far raised more than £12,500.

The group's Matt Notter said "the skies just opened up" around lunchtime with staff rushing to use water pumps normally intended to fill the site's ponds.

Some of the animals went to foster homes, with others being taken home by workers.

Equipment was taken out of the main buildings in an effort to prevent it being damaged

"We've not seen rain like it before," he explained. "Within 10 or 15 minutes the place was flooded.

"It came rushing into our reception area and tearoom building first, then it started to fill down at the kennels.

"We had to move the dogs in the lower kennel block, the cattery was flooding. It was chaos.

"We managed to keep most of the water out of our stable yard, but the kennel kitchen where food is prepared is ruined."

Mr Notter, whose on-site house was also flooded, estimated it would take "a few months for everything to be as it was" with "a lot of rebuilding to do".

More than 600 people have so far contributed to the fundraising appeal with donations to be used to replace supplies and repair damage.