Following the huge success of the appeal last Christmas, when approximately 875 items were donated, the Friends Of Animal League (FOAL Farm) in Jail Lane, Downe, are again inviting customers at the Sainsbury's stores at Locksbottom and Orpington to purchase an extra tin of dog or cat food and to donate it in the stores to their Buy A Christmas Dinner For A Homeless Animal appeal.

The Locksbottom store has been donating unused food to Foal Farm weekly and this has been a fantastic help but FOAL requires even more help from the wider community.

FOAL farm is home to a multitude of unwanted and abandoned animals and to those who have lost their homes because their owners have died or gone into care.

Many of the animals that find themselves homeless in this way are getting on in years and it must be a bewildering and frightening experience for them.

However, at FOAL they are looked after, treated with kindness and every effort is made to find them new homes.

Any animal that cannot be re-homed is able to live out the rest of its life at the farm.

If you are considering taking on the responsibility of looking after an animal, please contact FOAL.

Volunteer helpers are always needed for a wide range of tasks.

FOAL also offers work experience to students from schools and colleges.

Donations of all kinds are appreciated, whether it is money, animal bedding such as blankets or bric-a-brac for resale at the monthly rummage sales at the farm.

Visitors are welcome between 1.30pm and 4.30pm every day except Tuesdays.

If you wish to contact FOAL telephone 01959 572386 or via the FOAL Farm website

By John Stephens