A group of women have been helping to boost a charity.

Dressed as cats, Cathy and Helen Southall, Gina Oliver and Joanne Harris visited pubs at Saltburn, Marske, Guisborough and Redcar, collecting more than £700 for an appeal to build an animal sanctuary.

Their fundraising efforts have helped bring a dream to build a safe haven for strays a step nearer with £150,000 already raised.

Anne Prosser, chairwoman of the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (SARA), said the charity had already started to look for suitable sites and half the appeal target had been reached

"It has taken us four years to raise this amount. We don't want to take another four years to get the rest; we want it in two," she said. "We have looked at three sites already and we have been in touch with the council and estate agents. We are looking, though we have not got all the the money we need. We are seriously considering getting a mortgage.''

SARA is considering whether to open a charity shop or to raise the appeal's profile with a gift aid scheme.

The sanctuary, which would ideally be situated in an old farm, will have a no destruction policy. Only very sickly or dangerous pets would be put to sleep.

Mrs Prosser said: "What comes across is that the more we do the more we have seen the need for a sanctuary.

"We have 32 dogs and puppies and 24 cats and kittens in foster care at the moment. I have never known numbers like it.''

SARA has organised a New Year's Day dip in the North Sea, off Saltburn Pier.