A hedgehog rescue centre in Newtown is celebrating a successful first year caring for more than 240 hedgehogs.

Havenmore Hedghog Rescue, which is believed to be the only facility of its kind in north Powys, was opened by TV presenter Iolo Williams on May 1 last year.

Rose Lambert, of Havenmore Hedgehog Rescue said: "The greatest joy is to have released 27 hedgehogs in the last two weeks, that have been in our care over winter, hibernating in our new shed, and now released back to run free in the wild.

"We wish to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers, supporters, especially to Morrisons in Newtown who let us have a stall every other month with collection buckets also a food donation basket. This has been a Godsend as we have most of the food given, and a regular donation coming in.

"I have had the pleasure of going into nine schools sharing my passion with a display and getting children on board fundraising and wanting to help save these precious mammals. I also have enjoyed going to the Guides, Scouts, Youth groups, many WI and many more still to go to which had to cancel due to our current lockdown."

With fewer than a million living in the UK, Hedgehog Awareness Week (May 3 to May 9) is a campaign to save the small prickly animals.

While we are all busy in our gardens at the moment, Havenmore Hedgehog Rescue is encouraging everyone to keep an eye out for what might be a hedgehog nest - it could easily be mistaken for a pile of leaves or branches.

Our spiky friends will be emerging from hibernation now that warmer weather is here but will still use their nests for sleeping during the day.

Rose said: "There is less than a million in the UK many will have drowned because of the terrible flooding. Please put fresh water out in several areas in your garden. If you can put cat biscuits even better but put under a cover or food station to stop cats eating it. Please stop your dog from hurting or attacking them. Please, please before you use a strimmer, mow the grass, clear rubbish or your shed out think Hedgehog!"

If you find an injured or sick hedgehog ring Havenmore Hedgehog Rescue straight away on 01686 625706 or 07964338630