Volunteers at the Cedar Wildlife Sanctuary, on Cedar Avenue, locked up for the final time last week after spending several years struggling to gather the funds needed to stay afloat.

Wendy Radford, who ran the centre, told Chad: "People were bringing in animals and we'd get the odd donations now and again, but it was nowhere near enough to cover the cost of looking after the animals we had here.

'Shame'

"It's a shame, and I've been forced into it really, but the thing is there's nowhere else for them to take animals locally, the nearest sanctuary now is in Lincoln."

The sanctuary has taken in thousands of wild animals over the years and operated across parts of Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire — often performing rescues of trapped animals before funds dried up.

Wendy added: "People would always come and say they would put on fundraisers and things when they were here and saw the animals.

"But then we would never hear from them again.

"I've got about 100 animals left and most of them will be released in September.

"I'd like to thank everyone who has helped us over the years and the girls who have helped out over the past year."

What do you think? Click below to have your say.