Farm sanctuary appeals for £700k to buy site

Louise Stuart said raising the money was "doable" but there was a long way to go

A farm sanctuary has appealed for £700,000 so it can purchase its site - otherwise it could be sold for housing.

For the past 40 years, Farm Animal Sanctuary has rented 60 acres of land in Evesham, caring for hundreds of neglected animals.

It said it needed £944,000 in total to buy the site from the landlord.

The sanctuary said it would be its "biggest achievement ever" if it could and it would allow it to expand its offer to visitors and invest in better animal care.

"It would just be a massive weight off our shoulders to own the site," the sanctuary's Louise Stuart said.

Purchasing the land would be "incredible" and mean the sanctuary not be governed by a landlord, she said, adding that raising the money was "doable".

"We've done really well so far, we're always hopeful, it's something we've got to do."

Jan Taylor, who founded the sanctuary, said she could remember when some of the older animals arrived.

"They were like three-quarters dead and... they're still here and it's all worth it," she said.

"[Animals] should be treated in a proper way, not left to die somewhere."

Ms Taylor added the sanctuary could not afford the advertising other groups could and there were few farm sanctuaries around, all of them struggling.

"If it's £1, please, they need your help," she said. "We do all we can, we just can't do any more."