A wildlife charity that rescues thousands of animals each year is under threat because it cannot meet its costs.

East Sussex Wildlife Rescue and Ambulance Service (WRAS) volunteers help injured foxes, badgers, deer, hedgehogs, seals, swans and other wild creatures every day.

But the charity is finding it hard to pay for the increasing number of call-outs.

Now boss Trevor Weeks said this month, for the first time, the service had more invoices than it had funds available.

He said: "We are virtually broke. There are bills we can hold off paying so we can cover it but we are extremely short of funds at the moment."

Mr Weeks said an average call-out cost the charity £65.

Last year there were 2,210 incidents. So far this year there have been 760, with the busiest season ahead.

In the past year there has been a threefold increase in the number of calls about fox cubs.

Last year, the service responded to 45 deer call-outs. It has already had that many this year.

The charity needs about £40,000 a year to survive. In the past it has received money from legacies but would prefer to rely on more regular sources of income, such as standing orders set up by supporters. It is staffed by volunteers.

Mr Weeks said: "A lot of people don't give to animal charities because they don't think it is helping humans.

"Our service does.

People call us from the roadside because they have hit a badger or seen a fox lying injured.

"Of course, these people are extremely distressed. On some occasions they have spent half an hour ringing round to get someone to help."

Volunteers receive a number of calls from Eastbourne Borough Council and Sussex Police, but the service receives no public funding or money from the RSPCA or RSPB.

The charity is attempting to set up a critical care unit at Horsebridge Vets, near Hailsham, so it can order medication at cost prices and provide hospital care. It needs £15,000 for equipment.

Injured animals sometimes have to wait three or four hours for emergency treatment.

Mr Weeks said: "Wild animals deserve much better care than they are getting in this area. It isn't the vets' fault.

They help as much as possible."

To help, send donations payable to East Sussex WRAS to Peter Mortimer, WRAS Treasurer, Ash Cottage, 73 Friday Street, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 8AY.