CARERS at an animal sanctuary near Bromsgrove battled to save ponies and a sheep which were the victims of recent raging floods.

At the Farm Animal Sanctuary, in Stoney Lane, three Shetland ponies were rescued after they were stranded when part of their field was flooded.

A sheep in another field had to be dug out of knee deep mud as flash floods hit the area.

The charity's sister sanctuary, near Evesham, had over 20 acres under water and the farmhouse was also flooded.

Maureen Lawless, who runs the Bromsgrove sanctuary, said: "It has been more of a nightmare for them than our sanctuary here in Bromsgrove.

"At the height of the flooding a fence had to be demolished to get sheep and ponies to safety."

But Maureen said the animals now faced further hardship as hay crops had been ruined by the torrential rain and some still lay underwater.

She said: "The forecast is that hay will be scarce and prices will reach an all time high.

Normally a bale of hay cost £2.50-£3, now dealers are predicting it will double.

"Between the two sanctuaries we use over 5,000 bales in winter." And she added: "Unless we can raise enough money it looks a grim future for our goats, sheep and horses."