A popular animal sanctuary, which has helped save the lives of thousands of abandoned pets, is facing an uncertain future after neighbours called in the council.

Gwen Butler was inspired to set up Bunny Burrows in Richmond, North Yorkshire, six years ago after a chance encounter with TV's Pet Rescue team.

She began by taking a handful of rescue cases herself but, once word spread, she was dealing with appeals for help from across the region.

Rabbits and guinea pigs soon filled dozens of hutches in the garage and garden of her home on Whitefields Drive.

The rabbit refuge even attracted international acclaim when Mrs Butler paid for a pioneering tummy-tuck operation for one inmate with a weight problem.

However, despite her success with animals, neighbours have drawn Richmondshire District Council's attention to the fact the rescue centre is running without formal planning permission.

As a result, the Butlers have been asked to submit a formal application to the authority - and will be spending Christmas wondering whether they will survive.

''When I first found out I needed planning permission, I thought about just giving the whole thing up but then friends and helpers challenged me to explain that to the animals - and I just couldn't,'' said Mrs Butler.

''It has taken me all my life to find my vocation and this is it; I have come to realise this is what I want to do.

She continued: ''I have been asked if I have considered moving, but this is my home. I grew up here and if I had to think about leaving then I would also have to consider packing it all in."

Mrs Butler says she as already scaled down the Bunny Burrows operation to meet some of her neighbours concerns. She has limited the number of spaces to 24, she no longer uses a shed in her back garden to house them and has begun to rely more on help from a network of ten foster homes.

''This isn't just for me but means so much to all our supporters, who have been fantastic over the years,'' added Mrs Butler. ''I've learned a lot over the past 12 months but I hope we can find a compromise which suits everyone." .