Animal rescuers face a huge bill after their ambulance broke down just a year after raising enough funds to pay for it.

Members of the East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) were returning home from a swan sanctuary when its ambulance, a Ford Transit van, faltered.

After managing to get back safely home to East Sussex, mechanics found the engine was a write-off and a new one is now needed.

Trevor Weeks, of the WRAS, said: "I can't believe our luck. After everyone's hard work and kind donations, we are back to square one again.

"It's going to cost more than £800 for a re-conditioned engine.

"We've had the van regularly serviced and it has been a lifeline. We bought a more expensive van in the hope it would last longer.

"I don't know what to do now. My biggest concern is for the wildlife casualties.

"Our volunteers are trying to help as much as they can but there is only so much they can do without me.

"It means we now have no way of dealing with deer casualties either.

"We are going to try our best to see what we can do to sort something out and get the van back on the road as soon as possible.

"I can only apologise to anyone we are not able to help."

WRAS can be contacted on 07815 078234.