An animal rescue sanctuary threatened with closure has been given a reprieve.

The Retreat Horse Rescue in Portslade, which had been closed since February because of foot-and-mouth, was facing possible closure to the public because of a lack of support just a week after re-opening.

But since an appeal highlighting the centre's plight appeared in The Argus offers of help have been steadily rolling in.

Retreat owner Annie Taylor was delighted and wanted to thank all those who had offered to help.

She said: "A lady phoned and offered us 40 bales of hay and another woman gave us £100.

"I felt really guilty because she just gave me this envelope and it wasn't until later I checked it and inside was a cheque for £100. I felt guilty because I did not thank her more."

Mrs Taylor said she would use the donations to pay some of the vet bills and would be holding more jumble sales to raise money.

She said: "We are getting plenty of people giving us bric-a-brac. We have got so much we are going to have another jumble sale.

"We can take about £80 a time and it helps a lot if people keep giving us stuff.

"Even if they just keep sending us bric-a-brac that is something we can sell."

But Mrs Taylor said keeping the centre running would be difficult until all foot-and-mouth restrictions, which prevent her from moving the animals, were lifted.

She said: "The general public thinks that it has gone away and they do not realise it is still very much around.

"It would make it an awful lot easier if restrictions were lifted but they are not going to until there are clear times and there are no clear times."

Anyone who would like to help the centre should contact Annie Taylor on 01273 270982.