HORSE sanctuary bosses fear they have been targeted by a scam costing them thousands of pounds in vital donations.

Patricia Evans and Zoe McQuade thought they would have to close Little Bramley Farm Horse Sanctuary where they care for dozens of neglected and abused animals in Polegate.

But when a man they knew offered to run riding lessons and start a fundraising website for them they thought they and their horses might be saved.

However despite hundreds of vouchers for riding lessons being sold and around £1,000 being donated to a fundraising page the pair have not seen a penny.

Sussex Police are now investigating whether they have been victims of fraud and are appealing for anyone who bought tickets or Groupon vouchers for riding lessons or made donations to a GoFundMe account.

Ms Evans told The Argus: "We were thinking we were going to have to close down and rehome the horses. "We needed financial help but we also needed help looking after them because I'm here seven days a week and seven nights a week.

"Then he said he would set up a business running a riding club from our yard and give us a donation for using the horses.

"He sold something like 600 vouchers for between £15 and £45.

"And then he set up a GoFundMe page. But we later found it wasn't paying into our bank account.

"People started turning up for lessons and when he wasn't there.

"Then a lady rang up to confirm a birthday party she had paid £150.

"And we don't run birthday parties.

"We were desperate and we trusted him.

"There were donations of around £1,000 that we haven't seen a penny of.

"We don't think we will ever get any of the money back.

"We still have people coming in with their vouchers and we cant send them away.

"I guess I'm a soft touch but I really trusted him."

PC Luke Brown said: "We are trying to assess the scale of this potential fraud and would ask anyone who may have dealt with this man (not the sanctuary directly), even if you have not paid money to him, to contact 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 556 of 19/03."

Anyone who wishes to make a donation directly to the sanctuary should visit littlebramleyfarmhorsesanctuary.org.uk