OTLEY based hedgehog rescue charity Prickly Pigs have released their third annual calendar, featuring photographs of some of their adorable rescues.

The last two calendars were a huge success, and the team are hoping they can build on this with their latest calendar.

Featuring 13 glossy A4 sized colour photos of some of the hedgehogs that have been through the rescue this year, the calendar has been photographed by local award-winning photographer Helen Walker, who is a keen animal lover and has worked with the rescue for three years.

"It's a real privilege to get so close to these lovely wild animals who are all very different characters, and to help Diane and her team with the amazing work they are doing," she said.

Since opening in 2020, this family-run rescue treats hundreds of hedgehogs each year.

Open 365 days a year, all funding for the rescue's financial needs is solely reliant on public donations and fundraising efforts of the team.

The rescue has been busier than ever this year, surpassing last year's total by late summer; they have already had 400 little pigs through the rescue many of whom have been successfully treated and released back into the wild.

This iconic species is now classified as vulnerable to extinction due to disease, car accidents, strimmer and mowing injuries, animal attack and starvation and need as much help as they can get.

All the proceeds from the calendar go directly to hedgehog care. In the longer term, the rescue is hoping to raise funds to improve their facilities.

Currently the spiky residents are cared for in the family's garage but this lacks facilities for the wonderful volunteers who help this family-run charity care for all the animals, and it's hard to keep warm in winter and cold in summer. Rebuilding this would enable the charity to help more and more hedgehogs in distress.

Apart from buying a calendar, you can help the charity by donating a small monthly amount, adopting a hedgehog, or donating supplies, such as wet and dry cat and dog food.

Visit www.pricklypigs.co.uk for more information about the charity and to buy a calendar.

Professionally printed high quality prints and canvases can be ordered from Helen at www.helenwalkerphotography.com, with 50 per cent of the proceeds going directly to the charity.