BOSSES at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary are looking to carve out a brighter future for their charges with plans to create a dozen new sculptures.

Supporters of the Edenfield organisation, which is home to 90 dogs and 200 cats, alongside horses, rabbits and guinea pigs, are also looking to erect a totem pole using a National Lottery grant.

The charity has received £8,200 of lottery cash which will see a dozen animal figures dotted around the sanctuary, with three benches and a directions map also lined up.

Vicki Appleton, Bleakholt’s chairman, said: “Bleakholt is in a picturesque setting and we want to make it as attractive as possible for people to come and see the sanctuary.

“The totem pole will have animals carved into it to reflect the work we do here and people can sit at the bottom of it, perhaps with one of our dogs they have walked, taking in the views.

“There will be signs guiding people to the separate areas within Bleakholt, such as the cattery and the stables.

“Funding is vital to us as we rely soley on voluntary contributions and obviously most of the money contributed goes to the welfare of the animals. This is lottery funding for this specific project and we are delighted to be able to use it to make our sanctuary more appealing for people to come and visit us and be a symbol of Bleakholt.”

Yorkshire-based Kim Neith Thompson is the creative talent behind the new arrivals, which are due to be officially unveiled before Christmas.

She added: “Being part of this project for a worthwhile organisation such as Bleakholt is fantastic. The animals here are a real inspiration for the sculptures I'm producing and I hope they bring a lot of joy to both staff and visitors.”

An open day is at the sanctuary, on November 30.