Animal lovers who run a sanctuary for cats, are calling for more volunteers and help to raise funds.

Award-winning Haworth Animal Welfare has reported a drop in fund-raising over the last year and a fall in membership.

Secretary, Sara Atkinson, said even with a £500 grant from the Jean Sainsbury Animal Welfare Trust and £2,500 from The Pet Plan Charitable Trust, received last year, income was down.

"We raised enough funds to cover our day-to-day expenses - but only just," she said. She anticipated that income for 2000 would be down £1,000.

"We are sending out a flyer to everyone who gets the news letter, Feline Fables, asking them to try and raise a small amount of cash for us. £10 from everyone will result in £1,500, which will cover our expected shortfall," she added.

She said there was also a need to recruit more volunteers to help look after the animals and to encourage more membership, which had slumped by about a third.

Long term, the group was hoping to buy its own van, but it would depend on the success of money raising, she added.

Anyone interested in becoming a member or a volunteer should call 01535 647184.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.