IF the baby is keeping you awake at night, spare a thought for Janis Dean. She is caring for five orphan babies which need bottle feeding every two hours -- 24 hours a day!

But Janis has become accustomed to such things since her home became the Carleton Hedgehog Hospital in Poulton.

The hedgehog breeding season is always a busy time. "I've already saved three abandoned babies and now these five have arrived," she said. "I'm coping, but if anyone has a baby's bottle warmer they don't need I could put it to good use. It would save me dashing backwards and forwards to the microwave!"

But the future for sick hedgehogs is looking brighter. After years of fund raising, work has started on a purpose-built care unit at Janis's home. The garage has had to be demolished to make way for the new facility which will have electricity and water laid on.

"When finished it will be a tribute to all those people who have given what money they could to make it happen," said Janis. "People like an anonymous pensioner who sent £5 which they could probably ill afford."

The next hurdle will be equipping the unit. "The five babies are currently occupying the two incubators I already have. Another one is vital and I really need another three, but they cost £150 each," Janis explained. "Then I need an electric water heater at around £60 and some intensive care cages at £40 each. It's a daunting prospect but fortunately people seem to be more aware of the need to lend a helping hand to our threatened wildlife. The humble hedgehog is still the familar 'gardener's friend.' But we seem to be inventing ever more ways of killing it and, unless we are very careful, it could one day become a rare sight in our gardens."

Anyone wanting to help Janet can contact her at The Carleton Hedgehog Hospital, 9 Alisan Road, Carleton, Poulton, Lancs FY6 7QF. Telephone 899404.