An animal rescue centre threatened with closure has been thrown a £30,000 lifeline by a mysterious benefactor.

The anonymous donor has come forward to help Debbie Campain continue to run her Cat Rescue shelter at Telscombe, near Brighton.

The centre had been due to shut for good at the end of January because Ms Campain could not afford £30,000 to buy out her former partner's half of the £200,000 bungalow, where the shelter is based.

But following an appeal in The Argus, the anonymous benefactor got in touch.

Ms Campain said she was delighted but warned she still needed all the help she could get to keep going.

She said: "It is fantastic and I am so happy we are going to be able to carry on.

"However, I still have to continue to pay the mortgage and running costs of the centre which can be between £2,000 and £3,000 a month.

"I am going to get another job but I desperately need people who can help me in any way.

"This could be by looking after the animals, dealing with supplies and deliveries, coping with paperwork, collecting animals, helping with fund-raising or making a financial donation.

"We provide such an important service and facility here and I am determined to keep it going."

The centre helps up to 800 cats, rabbits and guinea pigs every year.

Ms Campain stopped taking animals in last year and began to find homes for those she already had in preparation for the closure.

She said: "Now I can get the service running properly again.

"If we had gone there was no way the other animal shelters or charities could take up the slack and there were going to be a lot of abandoned animals out there."

Cat Rescue serves the coastal strip and Brighton and Hove and was started 15 years ago in Patcham by the late Irene Hubbard.

It moved to Ms Campain's home eight years ago and the cattery is based in her garden.

She said: "It is wonderful we are able to carry on and we are so grateful to our benefactor.

"Now we need all the support we can get to continue our work."

Anyone interested in helping the centre should call Ms Campain on 01273 580464.