SINCE first discovering a pregnant Jack Russell on her doorstep 20 years ago, Alex Winwood has helped thousands of pets find new homes.

Alex, who until recently ran the Eldon Hope animal rescue centre, in County Durham, opened her boarding kennels business with husband Fred in 1981 - and it wasn't long before unexpected arrivals started appearing.

"We would be on our way out somewhere and would walk out to the car and find a cardboard box full of puppies," recalled Alex, 63.

"It would happen all the time, and all over the place. I don't know how we found homes for them all in the early days.

"We didn't have a holiday for nine years when we first started, and much of the money from the business went into the centre."

In 1987, the Eldon Hope Animal Rescue Trust was recognised as a charity, which meant financial help from fundraising and more volunteers.

Each day started at 7am, seven days a week, with the animals finally being bedded down by 9pm. In peak season, there would be 90 boarders and 25 waiting to be rehomed.

"It was just a cycle of cleaning, feeding, exercising and nursing, which stretched over 24 hours if we had puppies in," she said.

"Our social life was non-existent and even Christmas Day revolved around the animals. But it wasn't a job, it was a way of life - and I loved it."

The couple have now sold their kennels business and moved to Newton Aycliffe, where they plan to build cat pens in their back garden and open a cattery.

It will also be open to rescue cats, but the grandmother is determined it will not be on the same scale as at Eldon Hope.

"I'm going to find time to appreciate what life has other than being at everyone else's beck and call," she said