A GROUP of vegans and veggies from Worcester has helped fund the care of horses which they say were kept in 'appalling conditions' at a traveller site in the city.

Members of Worcester Vegans & Veggies have handed over a cheque for £150 to Hillfields Animal Sanctuary in Bromsgrove to help pay for the care of three horses that the sanctuary rescued after they were found in 'appalling conditions' at a travellers' site in Warndon earlier this year.

The money was raised at a charity gig night held recently at the Firefly pub in Worcester, where Peter Kilcoyne, Anarcopoppy and Mansize provided a mixture of folk and punk music.

The group's communications officer Ronald Lee said: "This is all part of the work we are doing to protect animals from suffering and slaughter and we'd like to thank everyone who attended the charity gig and enabled us to make this contribution to help the horses.

"However, this is only a fraction of the amount it has cost the sanctuary to nurse them back to health and for their continuing care, so we are encouraging members of the public to also make donations."

Anyone wishing to donate to Hillfields, which looks after over 400 rescued animals in addition to the horses, can do so via the sanctuary's donation page at http://hillfields-animal-sanctuary.com/donate.html.

Mr Lee said: "In addition to fundraising for animal rescue, we also give help and advice to people who are interested in adopting a more humane diet and lifestyle for the benefit of other animals, the environment or their own health."

Anyone interested in going vegan, vegetarian or in reducing their consumption of animal products can contact them at info@worcsveg.org.uk via www.worcsveg.org.uk or on 07703 558724.