A fundraiser to help a fox sanctuary move to a new home has reached more than £4,500 meaning it will be able to support more foxes.

CEO of North Baddesley-based Second Chance Fox Sanctuary, Steve Mason, has run his fox accident and emergency centre for more than a decade.

He said that his agreement with the landowner, Ashfield Estate, was terminated after repeated complaints from a neighbour who moved next door four months ago.

Today, May 21 a fundraiser to help the Second Chance Fox Sanctuary relocate has reached £4,612 with 235 donations.

Steve said: “I’m so grateful to all those kind people who have donated to our cause.

“This is going to be a real step up for us – previously we would be working with a really limited space but now we have the facilities to look after many more foxes.

“Now we could care for more than ten foxes at one time. Our new home is much more spacious allowing space for the foxes to have a far better experience.”

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The money raised will be used to install fox proof fences around the new sanctuary which has the space to allow the foxes to roam woodland areas, sunbathe and have space to burrow.

(Image: Steve Mason) He continued: “Our next step will be to assess the entire site when the fencing has been erected and make sure it is completely fox proof – as they can be escape artists.

“When that is done we can move into the new sanctuary.

“We have so many foxes facing illness, injury and if they cannot be released they need a place of sanctuary.”

One donation was for more than £500, with the benefactor know only as ‘The Fox Defender’ adding: “Dark clouds have a silver lining after all.

“For every bad person there are hundreds of others that support you. Look at this opportunity as a fresh, new start and never look back.”

Steve and his volunteers have also being doing trips to scouts, cubs and the residential homes in order to educate the public on foxes.