AN ANIMAL rescue centre which takes in injured wildlife and abandoned pets across Somerset is appealing for help to raise some cash for an incubator. The Acorn Project, which was set up in Burnham three years ago by Steve Shore, and now has bases in Chard

AN ANIMAL rescue centre which takes in injured wildlife and abandoned pets across Somerset is appealing for help to raise some cash for an incubator.The Acorn Project, which was set up in Burnham three years ago by Steve Shore, and now has bases in Chard and Lincolnshire, needs £350 to pay for an incubator to help orphaned animals.Steve takes his well-known creatures, Holly the hedgehog, Merlin the barn owl, a corn snake, rabbits and ferrets into schools and residential homes in Weston & Somerset to teach people young and old about wildlife. He also helps other rescue centres by taking on animals they do not have room for and has volunteers across Somerset who help him by caring for injured wildlife and abandoned pets in their homes.He said: "At the moment, if we get really young animals coming in, the most important thing is to keep them warm as they would normally be snuggling up to their mothers. We use hot water bottles and blankets and have to keep checking the temperature of the room."It does work, but it means we've got to constantly monitor the animals. An incubator would help us save the lives of more very young, orphaned or abandoned creatures."Steve, who used to work at Secret World in East Huntspill, has around 40 animals living in his home at any one time, ranging from snakes and cats to rabbits and birds. The 43-year-old and his wife Nicky have two children, aged 15 and 17, and they all help to look after the animals Steve brings home.Anyone interested in donating some money to pay for an incubator can contact Steve on 07793 228049 or at sshore@btinternet.com. For more details visit www.acornproject.co.uk* Pictured: A kitten, just seven hours old, who is being looked after by the project after being abandoned by his mother in Weston.