Ledbury Food Bank has teamed up with a national charity to help pet owners struggling to afford to feed their animals.

Blue Cross will be helping to provide pet food for families hit hardest by the cost of living crisis.

The pet charity’s shop at 23 The Homend is seeking donations of dog, cat and kitten food, as well as food for small animals including rabbits, guinea pigs and hamsters, which will then be collected and distributed to needy families through Ledbury Food Bank.

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Stein Kingstree, manager at Blue Cross charity shop in Ledbury, said: “Here at Blue Cross we’ve heard stories of owners going without food themselves to cover the cost of feeding or caring for their pets and are aware that for some people their pets are their only companions and link to the outside world.

“No pet should have to go hungry, and no one should have to choose between feeding themselves or feeding their pets.

“Pets are part of the family and that’s why we’ve teamed up with Ledbury Food Bank to help people to keep their family together. Your donations will help families who have nowhere else to turn.”

Food bank experiencing 'highest level of demand'

Mark Lister, from Ledbury Food Bank, said: “We are enormously grateful for the support of Blue Cross.

“We are experiencing the highest level of demand we have ever known and many of our visitors have pets who they are struggling to feed, the donations we receive via Blue Cross will help to reduce one worry in their lives.”

Donations of pet food can be dropped off at the Blue Cross charity shop. For more information or to make a cash donation online visit bluecross.org.uk

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This year marks the 125th anniversary of Blue Cross, originally ‘Our Dumb Friends League’.

The charity was formed to help vulnerable pets and their owners and continues this work today across rehoming, clinical, animal behaviour, pet bereavement support and educational work.

Blue Cross relies on the support and donations of pet lovers to continue its. work, to find out more and make a donation visit www.bluecross.org.uk/125-years-of-blue-cross