THE lives of more than 600 animals could be at risk after the owner of an animal sanctuary near Evesham was given an eviction notice.

Janet Taylor, aged 71, started the sanctuary at Manor Orchard Farm, Middle Littleton, 14 years ago after she was offered the farm as a “gift” from animal charity supporter Patricia Bernie.

At that time Ms Taylor already had a sanctuary in Bromsgrove which she started with a former colleague and rented land from farmers nearby.

But Ms Bernie now wants the land at Middle Littleton back as she claims it was given to Ms Taylor on a “temporary basis” and a court case to determine the future of the land is expected to be heard in February or March.

Since Ms Taylor moved to the farm she has taken in more than 600 animals including 400 sheep, 13 pigs, 15 horses, cattle, turkey and geese as well as rabbits, cats and dogs. She says the animals could face slaughter if she is forced to close.

She said: “We have no idea why she wants it back. If she is successful we cannot move the animals. We’ve got nowhere to go. We haven’t got any facilities. We keep the animals until the end of their life we don’t re-home them.

“We cannot move them – we have a blind sheep and blind horse. It would be cruel.

“In theory all the animals must be put down. It’s the most awful thing to happen. If I thought for one minute this could happen we would never have moved here.”

Over the years Ms Taylor has made many improvements to the sanctuary and now employs three members of staff and has four part-time volunteers.

According to Ms Taylor, Ms Bernie offered to buy the farm for her and has never asked for any rent. She was expecting to receive a tenancy agreement but it never arrived.

Actress Joanna Lumley is a patron of the charity and has described the eviction notice as a “body blow that has left us reeling”.

In a statement issued through her solicitors Ms Bernie said that she “has owned Manor Orchard Farm since 1997 and has generously allowed the Farm Animal Sanctuary to occupy it payment free, on a temporary basis, for 14 years.

“Court proceedings have been ordered to determine the status of Farm Animal Sanctuary’s occupancy of the site.”