A £50,000 Lottery grant has meant a wildife education centre will be created in double-quick time at a County Durham animal sanctuary.

The centre, at the Ark on the Edge rescue base on, Woolley Hill Farm Woodland, near Barnard Castle, was expected to be completed in a year, but is almost finished after six months.

Set up in a converted byre, the centre will welcome school groups and the public after it is officially opened by Neville Turner, a local author and retired vet, on Saturday, June 2.

Pat Kingsnorth, who runs the sanctuary, said: "We were given 12 months to complete the new centre, but have worked really hard to get it ready in half the time so it can be put into use."

The building will have displays of wildlife with explanations of how it can be protected.

The sanctuary is home to 63 animals after they were not wanted by their owners or found injured.

They include two horses, a donkey, four Shetland ponies, cats, rabbits, goats, kestrels and owls.

Ms Kingsworth, who raises money for the sanctuary by giving computer lessons, added: "We get some visitors who come in free of charge to see the animals and sometimes give donations.

"But it will be wonderful to have a more formal centre at which groups can be welcomed.

"My main aim is to look after unfortunate creatures, but I also want to spread the word about wildlife in general.

"We have a lot of it around here, including voles, red kites, buzzards, curlew and snipe.

"We have a nature trail and a platform overlooking a pond."

The £50,000 was given after the sanctuary was voted in as runner-up by viewers in a televised lottery project, the People's Millions.

Ms Kingsnorth, a former computer expert at the GlaxoSmithKline factory, has cats which can be given to good homes. She cannot accept dogs because there are no kennels, but is willing to accept many other animals.