More than £23,000 has been raised in less than two weeks to save a hedgehog rescue charity, which has saved the lives of more than 8,000 of the creatures over the last 18 years.

Cheddar based Prickles Hedgehog Rescue announced earlier this month that it was facing closure by the end of September after the building where its shop is based in the Somerset town was sold.

The sale will leave the charity struggling to stay open as the income the shop generated helped paid for its base in the town, explains its founder Jules Bishop.

“It has become almost impossible to generate the funds to keep Prickles a float, it cost £107k last year,” she said.

“It is devastating for everyone involved in Prickles, especially the hogs. As it stands our shop will go by the middle of September and we have no affordable premises. Everyone is devastated."

On 9 August the charity launched a Gofundme fundraiser to keep the charity open, which has almost reached its target of raising £25,000. As of 19 August more than £23,000 had been raised from more than 600 donations.

“Prickles also means so much to the staff and volunteers that support the charity as well as the wider Community. Many of our volunteers are students on work placements, Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme participants, young people with learning needs and a committed group of adults from the Community,” says the charity’s fundraiser.

“We work closely with the University of Bristol's Veterinary School and we are often involved in research projects and studies to support the conservation of the hedgehog species,” it adds.

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