Kate ScotterPeople are being urged to watch out for hedgehogs after a rescue centre helped save the lives of nearly 100 of the prickly creatures over the winter.Kate Scotter

People are being urged to watch out for hedgehogs after a rescue centre helped save the lives of nearly 100 of the prickly creatures over the winter.

Norwich Hedgehog Rescue, in Middletons Lane, Hellesdon, came to the aid of 94 hedgehogs over the winter months which had been found by members of the public.

Some of the hedgehogs had been injured in gardening accidents while others had been victims of dog attacks or had been born late into the season so had not gained enough weight to survive the cold weather.

Now recuperated, several have been released into the woodlands at Fairhaven Water Gardens, in South Walsham.

Claire Williamson, who founded the rescue centre, said: 'Most of the ones we released at the weekend would not have survived if it wasn't for members of the public bringing them into us.

'Some were just babies when they came in so they wouldn't have got through the winter.

'We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to nurture them by their kind donations.'

The rescue centre was set up in October 2008 and moved to its Hellesdon premises last year due an increase in demand.

Hedgehogs are taken to the centre from all parts of Norfolk and Suffolk, including Diss, Eye and Halesworth.

Areas of Norwich, including Sprowston and Thorpe St Andrew, are also said to have a large population of the nocturnal creatures.

Now the weather is improving and people are out gardening, Ms Williamson has urged them to be on the lookout.

She said: 'A lot of the hedgehogs which came into us had been involved in gardening accidents; either they had been stabbed with tools or involved in an incident with a trimmer.

'It's now that time of year when people are out in their gardens and the hedgehogs are waking up after hibernation, so we would urge people to watch out for them.'

Anyone who sees a hedgehog in need of help is asked to contact the rescue centre on 01603 409436.

Have you got an animal story for the Evening News? Call reporter Kate Scotter on 01603 772326 or email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk