WILDLIFE, farm animals and racehorses are bearing the brunt of the cold weather, according to those who work closest with them.

As the freezing conditions continue, experts urge residents to do their bit to give the region’s wildlife the best chance of survival.

Meanwhile, farmers are working around the clock to keep their animals fed and watered as the relentless cold spell enters its third week.

Rachael Gillbanks, of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “Farmers are telling us they have gone through a month’s supply of fodder in the past two weeks alone.

“They are managing as it stands, but if this was to continue for an even more prolonged period we might be running into problems with the amount of food.”

Racehorse trainers from the region are also doing battle with the elements to make sure their animals can properly prepare for races.

Middleham-based flat trainer Mark Johnston said that over the past few weeks, some of his horses had missed races because of the impact of the snow in North Yorkshire on their preparations.

Trainers have gritted roads themselves to allow horses a safe route to the gallops at nearby High and Low Moors.

“I think Middleham used to be given priority by the council, and the roads would be gritted early on, before we started work,” he said.

“But the only way now is to do it ourselves, although like everyone else we are running out of grit.”

Many wildlife sanctuaries were closed this weekend in the interests of public safety.

But Jim Cokhill, chief executive of Durham Wildlife Trust, said the work would continue to help animals ride out the worst of the weather.

“It is bad for everything, all sorts of wildlife,” he added.

“Kestrels and barn owls are particularly badly hit, as they can’t get to small mammals they prey on as they move around underneath the snow.

“We have stocked up our feeding stations, but in this weather finding water can be a problem. We encourage people to make a hole in the ice on their garden pond or to make provide another means for birds to drink.

“It’s a good opportunity to see wildlife you don’t normally see in your garden, as animals like deer look for a feed.”