A CHARITY based near Stourport that cares for injured, sick and wild animals is seeking a cash boost to enable it to buy its premises.

Bishopswood Rescue Centre was set up on a rented site two years ago but bosses say its activities are being held up while efforts are made to raise capital to purchase the land.

It is planned to develop extra facilities for the care and rehabilitation of rescued birds and animals.

The rescue centre, next to woodland surrounding Bishops Wood Environmental Centre, near Crossway Green, was granted full planning permission at appeal least year but owners, Nick and Sandy Lee, have been campaigning for permission to live on the site to care for the animals but without success.

Wychavon District Council has rejected the couple's request to permit basic, overnight shelter for a night carer.

The couple, who have worked in animal care for 25 years, have recently been seeking capital funding to buy the premises.

They say the cash injection is important to the further development of the project.

The RSPCA, which concentrates, primarily, on the rescue and care of domestic and companion animals, passes many wild cases to Mr and Mrs Lee but is channelling its resources to its own new centre at Shrewsbury.

The couple hope a financial institution or charitable trust can step in to help.