A PRESTON woman who devotes her life to rescuing animals has sent out an SOS to help save an injured seal.

Preston-born Jan Bevington runs the Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary on the Shetland Islands, where she looks after injured wild animals including seals and otters.

And now Jan is looking for help to help raise money to create a purpose-built pool for one of her patients.

Silva the harbour seal was left permanently injured a year ago when she was just a pup after she collided with a boat and suffered a smashed pelvis.

The helpless creature now has extremely limited body movements and would never survive if she was released into the rough Shetland waters. Jan said: Silva came to us last summer and after only three weeks I knew I wouldn't be able to release her. This is the first time in 15 years that I haven't been able to release an animal back into the wild.

"We want to make the pool close to Silva's own environment with a big rock in the middle that she can climb onto." At present, Silva is living in a 'hole in the ground' .

Now Jan wants to raise £5,000 to start building Silva's new home. If you would like to donate money to the Silva Appeal, make cheques payable to Hillswick Wildlife Sanctuary and send them to Amanda Hogan at Withy Grove Veterinary Clinic, 39 Station Road, Bamber Bridge, Preston PR5 6QR.