A BRADFORD animal rescue charity has started an appeal to raise £125,000 to fund its expansion.

The Bradford and District RSPCA Centre in Mount Street is holding its Operation Animal Save Appeal throughout 2015.

The project will also see a new block of kennels to accommodate dogs for re-homing and an indoor arena where staff can socialise dogs and prepare them for their next home.

The arena will also offer a viewing area for prospective new owners to see the animal they wish to take home with them.

It also aims to use the cash raised to build a new reception area and shop at the site.

This will let the branch display a larger selection of animal foods and accessories.

It will also hold regular in-store promotions on foods and other items, designed to give the centre a cash boost.

The fundraising campaign is expected to last for the whole of the year.

Work associated with the project would cost a total of £250,000 with the Bradford branch raising half of that sum.

If Bradford raise its half, this figure would be match funded by the RSPCA nationally.

Staff at the branch will hold a series of fundraising events throughout the year, including their open day in the summer.

They have also appealed to district businesses and residents to get behind the campaign.

Terry Singh, general manager of the branch, hopes the work will bring the centre into the 21st century.

He said: "This is quite a big challenge for us.

"We really need to start to look to the future.

"It's very important to get this work done.

"The demand for our facility is growing each year. We are trying to provide a facility so we can accommodate a

"To be able to take on more animals we need to be able to keep up with the times.

"We need the public behind us. We will try to reach the target by the end of the year.

"We want to provide a comprehensive facility. We want to keep the good work that we do going.

"The centre has a lot of goodwill from the people of Bradford. We need the public behind us. We have to appeal to their generosity to keep us going.

"If we can reach our target, we will be liaising with the RSPCA headquarters and ask them for match funding.

One of the fundraising schemes is 'buy a brick' where, for a £1 donation, people can buy one of the bricks for the new build.

To make a donation, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TerrySingh1, call the branch at 01274 723063 or go to rspca-bradford.org.uk.