The weekend's storms may be the last straw for cash-strapped TV writer Carla Lane and her animal sanctuary.

High winds caused damage costing as least £8,000 to the sanctuary near Horsted Keynes, which houses more than 800 animals and birds.

One field shelter was destroyed and wood from its roof was blown into the air and sent crashing into another.

Miss Lane, who penned TV hits Bread and Butterflies, said: "Thank God there were no animals inside the shelters."

However, she said she could no longer afford to keep the sanctuary going.

"We are so proud of what we do here. We have saved hundreds of animals from slaughter. But I just can't keep up with the amount of money needed any more.

"Most people think I'm filthy rich because I was once. That is why I bought this place. But the money is dwindling fast and I'm getting frightened."

The field shelters cost £4,000 each and are vital for protecting animals and food supplies at the sanctuary, which Miss Lane started ten years ago.

She bought the 38-acre site after she saved 16 horses from slaughter and wanted somewhere to keep them - ideally a cottage in the countryside with enough stables.

She said: "There weren't any cottages with 16 stables and the amount of land I needed so I ended up here with this big house."

The sanctuary soon expanded to open a hospital room and operating theatre.

Miss Lane said: "I love what we do but it's very difficult because we've grown much bigger than I thought we would and we've run out of money."