A BOLTON hospital is aiming to provide hi-tech creature comforts to prickly patients in need of care.

What started as a hospital for all wild animals in Little Lever, has developed into a highly specialised unit - because one kind of patient started to 'hog' the limelight.

The hospital - formerly the Village Wild Animal Hospital - is setting up its own intensive care unit...for hedgehogs!

Mel Crossley, who runs the hospital, explained his switch to specialise in what cannot be called the most cuddly of creatures.

He said: "We have been trying to expand for about 12 months. There is land at the back of us, but we have not been able to rent, lease or even buy a bit of it from the estate agents.

"In addition to this, hedgehogs are the most popular casualty we get. So, this, coupled with the lack of available space, led us to decide to specifically look after hedgehogs."

The Hospital is run by Mel and girlfriend, Catherine Harrison, in their back garden in Churchill Drive. It is open 24 hours a day, providing a free voluntary service, and surviving on donations or membership fees.

Using money raised, Mel has purchased a new hedgehog unit for £800, containing heated sections. It will eventually be fitted out with veterinary equipment, making basic treatment readily available on the site day or night. Mel said: "This will be the first special care unit of its kind in the North West.

"I was surprised that hedgehogs started to take over the space, and there was not a lot left for us to do when we were unable to expand.

"The hedgehogs come to us in all sorts of conditions. There are cruelty cases where some have been set on fire or even had their eyes poked out. Some have been in accidents, been caught up in lawn mowers, have maggots eating away at them, been mauled by dogs, or there are those that arrive with three legs. They can even have bits of nose or toes missing.

"Once our unit is fully operational, the number of hedgehogs we will be able to treat will be limitless."

When the creatures arrive at the Hospital, they will first be taken to the 'Accident and Emergency Building'. From there, they are moved to the 'Recuperation Ward' - 'Spikes House' - named after the very first hedgehog Mel treated.

Medication will be continued in Spikes House, and once on the mend, the hedgehogs will be moved into outside pens where they are checked for more than a week to make sure they are fully recovered.

Once all is well, the animals are weathered and released.

Membership to the Hospital is £6 per year for adults, and £3 for under-17s and pensioners.

In a bid to raise funds for an incubator for hedgehogs, Mel takes on the Popperfield Challenge on October 27, when he is due to tackle a sponsored seven mile cross country run over man made and natural obstacles in Preston.

Anyone wishing to support him and the Hospital, or interested in further details should telephone 709144.

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