THE founder of a Benfleet wildlife sanctuary has celebrated her 70th birthday, and has vowed to continue helping abandoned and sick animals.

Veronica Mepham set up Rescuers Wildlife Sanctuary, in Watlington Road, Benfleet, with her husband, Rye, 25 years ago.

Despite suffering three strokes in recent years, the pensioner still does all the fundraising to pay for the care of the sanctuary’s residents.

The couple and a team of volunteers nurse back to health abandoned baby foxes, hedgehogs, squirrels and other wildlife.

The sanctuary is also home to about 40 owls and parrots, formerly kept as pets, while foxes and rabbits, that could not survive in the wild because of injuries, now call the centre their permanent home.

The couple have only had two holidays together in 25 years.

Veronica said: “We take it in turns to go away. It’s a total commitment, but we still love it.”