Wildlife centre appeals for help after taking in over 200 baby hedgehogs

ITV News Central reporter Jane Hesketh visits a Leicestershire wildlife centre that has rescued more than 200 hoglets

A Leicestershire wildlife is centre is urgently appealing for hedgehog food and newspapers, after being inundated with over 200 hoglets.

Hedgehogs often breed in the autumn if they miss out in the spring. If the mothers go into hibernation, the youngsters are left to fend for themselves.

The Wildlife Hospital in Kibworth Beauchamp is now appealing for more donations to help care for the hoglets.

They need food, newspapers and additional incubators.

People are being urged to keep an eye out for very small hedgehogs.

If they're out during daylight, it's often a sign that things aren't right.

The RSPCA said hedgehogs weighing under 400 grams need to be brought into a centre to be looked after.

Amy, who works at the wildlife hospital, describes what type of foods the hedgehogs live off.

She said: "We use the loaf style pate dog food for the hedgehogs and cat biscuits aswell, the meaty flavours so we are getting through a lot of those very day because of the amount of hedgehogs we've got in.  

She adds they also use: "Newspapers as well and obviously because a lot of them are coming in really sick our incubator space is being filled quickly by those."