AN ANIMAL sanctuary has launched an urgent appeal for volunteers to help a fight for survival after it was hit by the foot-and-mouth crisis.

Operation Facelift at Only Foals and Horses in Oswaldtwistle will be a year-long project involving a big clean-up, improvements and repairs.

Co-ordinator Olive Lomas said: "Things are really bad -- we need a guardian angel, really

"We appreciate all of the help we received last year but as always more is needed. Any help -- no matter how small -- would be deeply appreciated."

The sanctuary, off Haslingden Old Road, has struggled to make ends meet after the foot-and- mouth crisis.

Oswaldtwistle did not have any infected farms, but special measures had to be put in place to make sure the disease was not carried into the sanctuary.

As a result, most of last year's fundraising events, including parties and tours, were cancelled.

The charity has opened a new stable building for its ponies-in-need, but workers want to improve access for visitors -- the sanctuary's lifeblood -- build fencing and carry out a huge paint job to brighten up the place.

"We are especially anxious to improve access to the sanctuary to improve visiting for everyone who comes to see the animals. After all the rain we've had the lane is full of potholes," Olive added.

As well as volunteers, the sanctuary is also looking for tools, buckets, brushes, paint, timber and fencing. And the ponies themselves get through 50 packets of polo mints every week, 24 nets of carrots, 300 bales of straw and 50 bales of hay.

Olive said: "This year is very important to us because we need to make up lost ground. The foot and mouth problem hit us badly which is why we need so much support now."