"IMAGINE having lots of food in tins and no tin opener."

That was the message from Furness Hedgehog Rescue as it called for the public's help amid a spell of dry weather.

"Lots of hedgehogs coming in with damaged front feet, broken nails and toes through trying to dig for food in this dry weather," said a spokesman for the group, which cares for sick and injured hedgehogs across Furness and South Lakeland.

"How would you feel if you could not get to food or a drink?"

The spokesman encouraged people to help out the prickly mammals by putting out cat biscuits, hedgehog food and water.

Hedgehog Awareness Week began yesterday and runs until May 8.