ANIMAL lovers travelled for miles to celebrate the official opening of a new rescue centre in Eden.

The dogs, cats, kittens and rabbits cared for by Eden Animal Rescue have relocated from the charity's ageing, storm-battered home near Shap, to an improved, purpose-built centre near Newbiggin, Temple Sowerby - costing close to £1 million.

Well-known Eden photographer Freddie Wilson declared Moorlands Head Farm open, and around 1,000 people attended the ceremony from as far afield as the West Coast, Lancashire and South Lakeland. Happily, they included a good number of potential animal adopters, said centre trustee Inga Voit.

"It was beyond our wildest expectations," she told the Gazette. "We were just overwhelmed by how many people came to see us."

Legacies from generous benefactors covered the £620,000 cost of buying the land at Newbiggin, and the charity says it is 'indebted' to people who remembered it in their will.

Eden Animal Rescue has been caring for and rehoming animals since 1995. Last year alone 231 cats, 71 kittens and 176 dogs were sheltered, as well as many small domestic pets such as rabbits, ferrets and guinea pigs, known collectively as 'small furries'.

The number of animals needing shelter has risen as more people buy pets on the internet, a phenomenon that Inga says is "bringing animal welfare down to its knees", she said.

The build cost for the new rescue centre is £300,000. Generous donors have already given £100,000 and the charity is running a 'buy a brick' appeal to help pay for the remainder.

Every year it must also raise £120,000 simply to keep running. "I think people appreciate the quality of care we give and the enthusiasm of the staff," said Inga. "We have four paid employees but we rely heavily on an army of volunteers; without them we couldn't function."

She added: "We see things that are often extremely unpleasant and we rely on dedicated people to turn animals' lives around and that takes people who are quite special. We see a lot of very happy stories. It's great when an animal finds a really good home; we meet some amazing people coming through our doors looking to adopt."

- To donate or to ask about adopting or volunteering, visit www.edenanimalrescue.org.uk