Ten great Danes who whose sanctuary was threatened with closure have been granted a stay of execution.

Now Joy Ledingham and Christine McMahon, founders of the Great Dane Rescue Society, are launching an appeal to buy their animals a permanent home.

The charity was given 14 days to quit its temporary HQ at a disused cement works near Shoreham following neighbours' complaints about noise.

Hargreaves Construction, which owns the site, asked the group to leave because bosses were concerned they were breaking planning laws.

Now Joy has applied to Horsham District Council for full planning permission to use the site as a sanctuary.

She said: "I doubt very much we'll get it but hopefully it will give us a couple of months' breathing space."

The charity has been inundated with offers to rehome the dogs after we reported their plight earlier this month.

Joy said: "We've had 300 people offering to take on 18 dogs. We're desperately trying to reply to everyone but it has been very hard work.

"The problem is, as soon as we get one rehomed, another comes in. I'm picking up two more at the weekend."

The society, which has grown to become the biggest of its kind in the country since it was set up 18 months ago, is now looking further afield for a base.

Joy said: "We'd love to stay here but we simply can't afford it. We'll have to move wherever we can afford to go."

Friends of the charity are now rallying to raise £30,000 - enough to secure a deposit on a permanent base.

Joy said: "We'd love to hear from anyone who wants to help us raise the money in any way."

To help, contact Joy or Christine on 0870 7874691.