A HAVEN for sick and abandoned animals may be forced to close in months as a result of the credit crunch.

Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, in Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood, is struggling for cash after taking on a large number of unwanted horses and ponies.

Owner Ernie Clark, 84, believes the credit crunch has taken its toll and that many people cannot afford to keep the animals.

The sanctuary now desperately requires donations in order to pay for the extra burden.

Mr Clark said: “We are running short of cash because people are dumping a lot of horses at the moment. We have never had so many coming in.

“People want to get rid of them because of this crunch, with wealthy families the pony they got their little girl for Christmas is the first thing to go.

“We have always fought for money. I’m just hoping it’s going to get better because we may only have a couple of months.”

Hopefields has more than 200 animals including pigs, goats and cows, and has been running for 20 years.

It has been under threat before with landlords Tesco having looked into selling the green belt land, which they lease to Ernie and Paula Clark, two years ago.

Now Mr Clark is concerned about what will happen to the animals if the sanctuary does run out of money.

He added: “How can we close? We have got 200 animals, we can’t afford to close. I don’t know what would happen.”

If you would like to help, contact Mr Clark on 01277 201110.