WE WOULD like to ask for your readers' help.

Calls to the RSPCA's 24-hour cruelty telephone line have almost doubled within six months, and the

charity is asking the public to show patience as it prioritises the workload. Although the number of calls to the 0300 1234 999 helpline increases each year during persistently mild and dry weather and longer daylight hours, this summer the RSPCA is facing an unprecedented demand.

Although we are doing all we can to answer as many calls as possible, exceptionally high call volumes mean the charity will be unable to answer advice calls during the evenings and weekends.

We will nevertheless be dealing with emergency calls as usual - 24 hours, seven days a week.

Dogs in hot cars, animals wounded in airgun incidents or animals dumped in the holidays all increase during the summer months and must be a top priority for the charity.

It is worth remembering the RSPCA has fewer than 500 front-line staff for the whole of England and Wales (equating to one for every 110,446 people), and their workload during this time increases dramatically.

We thank you for your understanding at this busy time.

SALLY BRUCE RSPCA