A ROSSENDALE animal sanctuary has urged a supermarket to reinstate a wooden charity collection container after it was removed because it cluttered up the store.

Bleakholt Animal sanctuary in Bury Old Road, Edenfield, was told to move its container used for animal food donations so Asda Accrington could introduce a 'clutter free zone'.

Bleakholt manager Neil Martin said the absence of the container is causing a loss of £30-£40 worth of food per week - which could mean nearly £1,500 a year if the store refused to put it back.

Mr Martin said: "It seems an extreme way of solving a problem. Asda have been very supportive over the years both at Accrington and Rawtenstall and I would like to think we can come to a compromise for the sake of the animals."

Mr Martin said a similar situation happened two years ago at the Rawtenstall store and he hopes another compromise can be reached.

The container at Rawtenstall was put back in a different area of the store in line with the new layout structure.

Bleakholt is one of the largest of its kind in the North West and currently homes and treats 500 animals staying at the 55 acre site near Ramsbottom.

It is placed to cover a large area ranging from the Pennines to Greater Manchester to help dogs, cats, rabbits and other farm animals.

A spokesman for Asda said the container has been removed while bosses decide whether to reinstate the collection in a different container.