Two hedgehogs have come into care at East Sussex Wildlife Rescue & Ambulance Service's Casualty Care Centre at Whitesmith covered in dried mud after being trapped in a foundation trench on a building site at Westham over the weekend. Builders discovered the two hedgehogs now named "Bill and Ben" and rescued them from the trench.

WRAS founder Trevor Weeks MBE accompanied by WRAS volunteers Chris and student Bryony, attended on site to investigate the situation. "I have never had to rescue a hedgehogs as badly covered in mud as this before" said Trevor, "we often get them with mud on but not with so much caked and dried onto their fur and spines, especially round the faces too."

WRAS would normally release the hedgehogs back in their hedgehogs home range that same evening, but due to the building work being undertaken and the depth of the trench the hedgehogs are being kept in care for a few days. "The first thing we did was to check to see if they were boys or girls, as we wouldn't want to keep a female away from her babies at this time of year. Luckily they were boys we they were delivered to the Casualty Centre for a clean up. Student Bryony helped me wash them both, you have to be careful when washing them that they don't curl up and drown in the water, so you have to be very careful with" said Trevor.

Now with their spines shining once more the two hedgehogs are being housed and fed in their new accommodation and will be released back at Westham at the end of the week once the trench has been filled in and is no longer a risk.

"The builders are going to keep an eye on the trench and check it regularly to ensure no others get stuck" added Trevor.

WRAS rescues between 400 and 600 hedgehogs a year. "Pevensey Park Road, Rattle Road, Castle View Gardens and the surrounding roads are all very lively areas for hedgehogs certainly a hot spot for them" said Trevor.

Anyone wanting to make a donation towards Bill and Ben's care or towards WRAS's valuable work helping wildlife across East Sussex please phone 01825873003 to make a donation. To post a donation to East Sussex WRAS, please send a cheque to PO Box 2148, Seaford, BN25 9DE.

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Press Contact: Trevor Weeks MBE (East Sussex WRAS) - 07931 523958

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