FIFTY duvets have been given to the National Canine Defence League rehoming centre at Sadberge, near Darlington.

They were donated by the dry cleaning chain Sketchley, which says they have gone unclaimed by customers for up to a year.

Duvets were collected from stores nationwide and taken to a holding depot, in Sheffield, before being delivered to the Darlington centre.

Catherine Gillie, who manages the centre, said: "We are always in need of blankets, and especially with the cold weather about to set in. They couldn't have come at a better time."