ANIMAL sanctuary boss Caroline Gould was proud to receive an international award in the House of Lords.

The woman who founded the Beckford-based Vale Wildlife Hospital and Rehabilitation Centre in 1984, was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

She said: "It was an amazing day and fantastic to meet so many other well-deserved winners. We were given a tour of the House of Lords after the ceremony. It was a great honour to be given the award, especially from the IFAW, a charity whose animal welfare work throughout the world I have admired and respected for many years."

The 52-year-old picked up the award for leading Vale Wildlife in its work for the last 26 years. She began it in her Vale of Evesham home and has seen it grow into the large enterprise that it is today. It treats up to 5,000 wildlife casualties, including birds, foxes, badgers and hedgehogs each year.

Always willing to give help and advice to the public on sick, injured or orphaned British wildlife, Caroline has to find more than £20,000 per month to keep the centre running.