A £500,000 appeal which aims to put life back into the countryside has been launched by a newly-formed East Lancashire charity.

Wildcare North West plans to create a centre in the grounds of the former Langho hospital where sick and injured wild animals and birds will be treated and cared for until they can be released.

Keith Whittaker, of Ramsgreave Drive, Blackburn, one of the trustees, said: "We have located an ideal, vacant building in the grounds of the former Langho Hospital.

"It is owned by Ribble Valley Council and our first priority is to raise the purchase price.

"After that we will need to fit out and equip the building and secure its running costs for the first five years.

"Every year thousands of people throughout Lancashire suffer the frustration of finding a wild life casualty and watching it die because there is no obvious place to get advice or help.

"In fact there is nothing like the centre we are planning between the RSPCA's Stapeley Grange in Cheshire and the Scottish Border.

"We have assembled a team of people with a wide range of business, educational and organisational skills - all of them dedicated to wildlife conservation. "The pressures of the 20th century are squeezing the life out of the countryside. We intend to put something back for the millennium."

When fully operational the centre aims to provide:

Free, expert treatment and continuing care until the creatures can be released.

A listed phone helpline offering immediate advice and support.

A lecture, classroom and conference facility where visiting groups from schools, colleges and community organisations can learn more about wildlife and the environment.

A chance for mentally handicapped people attending day centres to take part in meaningful and sociable work experience in the running of the centre and the care of animals and the gardens.

Work placement facilities and involvement with youth training schemes.

"Off-site" talks about wildlife and the countryside for schools and community organisations.

A library and research facilities.

A captive breeding programme for endangered species.

David Hewitt, Ribble Valley Council's countryside officer, said: "We are very impressed by the project's potential, not just as a means of rescuing creatures which might otherwise die, but as an asset in which various sections of the community can get involved.

"Anything which raises the awareness of the need to conserve our countryside for future generations is important."

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