AN animal charity faced with closure earlier this year has been saved by a do or die recruiting drive.

The Gwent South branch of Cats Protection set up in 1979 had been struggling to attract more volunteers to help run a network of fosterers to look after unwanted pets.

Branch publicity officer Loretta Kedward said: "We have had our ups and downs since we were formed and our recruitment effort was a do or die affair.

"If we had been unable to attract new active volunteers the branch would probably have closed. It was successful beyond our expectations."

They have attracted a homing officer, three new fosterers, five home visitors and a website designer to join the 10 workers who stayed loyal to the branch.

"Four years ago a large number of the committee members retired or left the branch leaving a few panicking volunteers," said Ms Kedward. From a low point of running only three cats pens in 2001, the charity now operates 16 outdoor pens, four permanent bedrooms and emergency rooms.

The branch, one of more than 260 in Cat Protection throughout the UK, aims to rescue, treat, neuter and re-home unwanted cats and kittens.

In a bid to boost funds volunteers are organising a bric-a-brac sale at Abergavenny Guide Centre in the Fairfield Carpark on August 14 at 1.30pm.

The branch's first sale at the centre last February raised £248, all of which was used for food, litter and vets bills.