As bonfire night approaches, a Rutland-based hedgehog rescue centre, Prickleback Urchin Hedgehog Rescue, have urged Rutland residents to check their bonfires before lighting them.

Bonfires, often made up of twigs and leaves, provide a great hiding place for hedgehogs, who nest in moss, grass, leaves, twigs and other garden debris. However, with fires being built a day or so before the bonfire night celebrations, this can result in some tragic accidents in which hedgehogs suffer burns and even death when the bonfires are lit.

The rescue centre have also shared information from The British Hedgehog Preservation Society deterring residents from leaving pumpkins out for the hedgehogs to eat this Halloween.

They shared: "Pumpkins make Britain's only prickly mammal very poorly. They are very tasty to a hungry hedgehog but sadly they are so fibrous that they cause horrendous bloating, pain and diarrhoea which causes dehydration. Please display pumpkins at height so these gorgeous creatures cannot munch on them."

The Prickleback team are based in Market Overton and have rescued over 100 hedgehogs, with a few qualified individuals supporting them when they are at capacity - which happens frequently.

Find out more about the local rescue centre on their Facebook page: Prickleback Urchin Hedgehog Rescue.

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