A WILDLIFE surgery facing closure is hoping an appearance on the television series Animal Hospital will bring in much-needed funds.

Well-known Horwich expert Tom Morris is battling to raise the £500-a-week which is needed to keep the centre running, but hopes the forthcoming exposure will attract pledges from far and wide.

The hospital is featured on the BBC programme at the end of this month when millions will watch him nursing an orphaned fox cub.

The animal continues to receive tender loving care at the Vale Avenue wildlife hospital alongside song thrushes, hedgehogs and sparrows.

St Catherine's Primary School is expected to get involved in naming the cub, which will remain with Mr Morris until August before being sent to a half way house in Chester.

Mr Morris, who is battling to raise funds to save the hospital, hopes the nationwide publicity from the Animal Hospital programme may attract help.

Since the appeal was launched two weeks ago, 240 people have come forward to pledge £1 a week. But the hospital still needs support of 500 people to keep the facility open.

The hospital responds to over 10,000 calls each year and is now rebuilding its intensive care unit.

Tom Morris, who set up the hospital more than a decade ago, said: "Without public support, thousands of animals will not have a refuge after becoming injured, sick or orphaned."

For a membership form and full details contact the centre on 690018 or write to Wildlife Hospital, 15 Vale Avenue, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 5RF.

LOVING CARE: Tom Morris with the orphaned fox cub being looked after at the wildlife hospital

A WILDLIFE surgery facing closure is hoping an appearance on the television series Animal Hospital will bring in much-needed funds.

Well-known Horwich expert Tom Morris is battling to raise the £500-a-week which is needed to keep the centre running, but hopes the forthcoming exposure will attract pledges from far and wide.

The hospital is featured on the BBC programme at the end of this month when millions will watch him nursing an orphaned fox cub.

The animal continues to receive tender loving care at the Vale Avenue wildlife hospital alongside song thrushes, hedgehogs and sparrows.

St Catherine's Primary School is expected to get involved in naming the cub, which will remain with Mr Morris until August before being sent to a half way house in Chester.

Since an appeal was launched two weeks ago, 240 people have come forward to pledge £1 a week. But the hospital still needs support of 500 people to keep the facility open.

The hospital responds to more than 10,000 calls each year and is now rebuilding its intensive care unit.

Tom Morris, who set up the hospital more than a decade ago, said: "Without public support, thousands of animals will not have a refuge after becoming injured, sick or orphaned."

For a membership form and full details contact the centre on 690018 or write to Wildlife Hospital, 15 Vale Ave, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 5RF.

Mr Morris, who is battling to raise funds to save the hospital, hopes the nationwide publicity from the Animal Hospital programme may attract help.