STAFF at an animal sanctuary are urging people to call in because their access road has been repaired.

Kennel assistants, from left, Jenny Day, Kirstein Reenison and Amy Younger are pictured with, respectively, Jasper, Herbie and Patch, testing the new facility at the Blue Cross Centre in Topcliffe, near Thirsk.

Wendy Ellison, manager of the sanctuary, believes that prospective pet owners have been put off visiting the sanctuary because the road was in such a bad condition.

She said: "People have been put off coming here because the road was so bad. Anyone with a half decent car didn't want to go down there. Now it has been repaired, you no longer need a 4x4."

The centre, which serves North Yorkshire and Teesside, is open from 10am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.