I wanted to open this hedgehog hospital as our hedgehogs are in trouble and need our help

The words of Protect our Hedgehogs (POGS) group founder Claire Foster after the group opened its new hedgehog hospital in Penshaw.

The new facility is much more spacious with enclosures for 32 hedgehogs compared to just 12 at their old hospital which Claire described as a garden shed.

Patients at the new hospital can also now benefit from microscopes for volunteers to check for parasites, incubators to keep the animals warm, and medicated baths which can be used to get rid of any skin infections.

Following the hospital’s official opening yesterday (January 18) Claire said: “We’ve just got so much more space for the hedgehogs as well as to store all the equipment we need.

“Last year we had to care for 32 hedgehogs at one point and there wasn’t the space in the old hospital. If the same thing happens this year then we should have the space to temporarily home then all.

“The new hospital also provides a much better environment for our volunteers. It will make a massive difference for the hedgehogs as well as for the general public who now have a dedicated place to go if they find a sick or injured hedgehog.”

With hedgehogs less active during the winter months the new hospital currently has two patients who have been transferred from the group's old facility.

Claire said: “We have one hedgehog we named Jill Scott after the football player and another we called Tinsel as she was brought in over Christmas.

“The hedgehogs are usually brought in due to injury and illness and it nearly always involves the impact of people.

“They may have been caught by gardening tools, crushed under log piles or had their nest disturbed.”

The new hospital was created from an old garden room which was bought for £2,000 with money raised by a Christmas fair and the group’s GoFundMe page.

The garden room had to be broken down and reassembled in Claire’s garden which was done thanks to the help of the local community.

Local fencer Dan Hill used his truck to transport the garden house and helped to put it back together with roofer James Green and Jack from J.D Brickworks also involved in the re-assembly - all free of any charge.

Gary from G&G Electrics also fitted the electrics and sockets for free.

Claire said: “The people of Penshaw have been amazing and it has been a real community effort. With an ongoing loss of habitat our local hedgehogs are in trouble and it’s important we as the people of Penshaw take responsibility to support them.”

Anyone who finds an injured or sick hedgehog can contact Claire and other volunteers via the POG’s website.