ANIMAL lovers are being asked to make it a merry Christmas for abandoned cats and dogs by donating food and blankets.

Bolton's Destitute Animal Shelter is hoping people can drop off extra supplies which will help them look after 50 canines and 30 felines over the festive period.

Staff at the Great Lever centre are busy all year around, but at Christmas especially they are eager to receive contributions towards the massive daily food bill.

They provide two meals a day at the shelter, where the animals get through 36 standard tins of cat food and 45 cans of dog food, 15kg of chicken and rice complete meal and 5kg of gravy mix.

Zoe Orchard, deputy manager at the sanctuary, which was established more than 100 years ago, said: "We are very busy all the time and would just like to appeal at Christmas for some help from the public.

"We would be very grateful for any help."

Many of the cats and dogs are on a strict diet and the staff are very specific about the food which is needed.

They would be delighted to receive tinned Butchers Tripe, tinned Chappie meat, complete Chappie, Winalot Prime, Pedigree Chum puppy food, any kind of mixed biscuits, gravy granules, tins of Felix, Whiskas, Arthur's, tinned tuna, sardines or mackerel, and any complete cat food.

The shelter would also like to receive blankets to keep the animals warm.

Anyone who can help should take donations to the shelter, which can be found at 1 Northolt Drive. For more information call them on Bolton 526486.