ANIMAL lovers have relaunched a campaign to build a £250,000 all-purpose animal rescue centre.

Supporters say the sanctuary is essential with dog-lovers like Sue Sleightholm stretched to breaking point fostering strays such as Collie-cross Zak.

Members of the Saltburn Animal Rescue Association (Sara) has raised £67,000 in three years towards the sanctuary.

But they say the need is becoming increasingly urgent with animals like Zak being abandoned and healthy strays being destroyed.

Former RSPCA-worker and mother-of-four Mrs Sleightholm of Redcar is looking after four dogs and two puppies in her Redcar home.

She said: "Zak was a stray in the Guisborough area and is doing fine, but some cases are heart-breaking.

"I've currently got another puppy, a Doberman-cross called Bailey, just a few weeks old, who was just skin and bone when we found him. He was in a state, but it's amazing just how quickly they respond to care. It's awful when they have to be put down."

Sara mainly helps stray dogs and cats, but also other animals. Chairman and re-homing officer Ann Prosser, appealing to the public for support, said: "We've raised the money despite having £1,000 a month running costs as it is. There's very little for stray dogs here and this sanctuary is essential. We are dealing with 250 animals a year and they must be housed.

"One idea which has taken off is our 'buy a brick' campaign, where donors can buy a brick in the new centre. We've looked at a few sites but we'll get more serious about it when we're nearer the target."

Sara can be contacted from 9am to 1pm on (01642) 201005 or by writing to: PO Box 69, Brotton near Saltburn, TS12 2GN.