RUNNERS pounded pavements in aid of a new animal rescue centre planned near Cambridge.

Stroud athletes Will Trippett and John Boyd were inspired to run the Stroud Trail half Marathon on Sunday, May 11 after hearing the moving story of rescue dog Reggie.

The abandoned territory-cross had sustained severe injuries after being run over by a car was nursed back to health and rehomed by the local RSPCA.

The South Cotswolds RSPCA announced plans to build a flagship animal sanctuary in December.

The purpose built Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home will sit on a six-acre site of a disused farm between Cam and Cambridge and cater for some 2,000 vulnerable animals a year.

Redevelopment of Beechmeadow Farm will cost an estimated £4.1million, of which the charity still has £2.5million to raise.

Head of fundraising Mary Liley said the charity was very grateful for the runners’ sponsorship and for raising the profile of the rescue centre.

“We hope that their involvement helps us to raise awareness of the plight of so many animals in the area and the desperate need for the new centre,” she said. “It will be specially designed to ensure that dogs, cats and smaller animals have the very best chance of a secure future by finding them loving homes.”

She hoped people wouldn’t be put off by the large sum necessary to make the home a reality, saying: “I know that this sounds like an enormous amount of money to raise, especially during hard economic times but if just 2,000 people gave just £1 a day for three years we would have achieved our target – that’s less than the price of a cup of coffee a day.”

For more information email mary.liley@rspcastroud.org.uk or call 07896 950 980.