AN urgent call has gone out for people to take in elderly and unwanted animals from a rescue centre that is being forced to close down.

Residents at Doolittles Rescue Centre include sheep, geese, a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig and around 20 cats fostered on behalf of Warrington RSPCA.

It uses rented land but the owners want to develop the site - and Doolittles has to move on.

Nadine Pengilly, Warrington's RSPCA Inspector, said: "They say work will start in April but the problem is finding new homes for the rescued animals."

These include a 13-year-old female sheep named Baa and her lifelong companion Lizzy, a 13-year-old female pygmy goat. They must be re-homed together because they have been together since birth.

There is also a two-year-old female Vietnamese pot bellied pig and a two-year-old male billy goat.

The centre is also home to eight Bampton chickens, six geese and six ducks, all looking for new loving and caring homes either on a permanent basis or temporarily until she has found another house with some land.

Jane Newton, aged 41, the owner of Doolittles, which is based in Wrenshot Lane, in High Legh, said: "A lot of the older animals came here to die basically, they are old and they need homes urgently."

Anyone who can help should contact Jane on 07922 149293.