ONE of the North West's largest animal sanctuaries Bleakholt in Turn Village is holding a grand reopening and animal Christmas party on December 2.

The sanctuary, on Rochdale Road, had to close for most of the year because of the foot and mouth crisis.

For the past four weeks the dog and cat sections have been open and on December 2 the farm and stable area will reopen.

The H and M Dog Display Team has been booked to appear. The team has made many appearances at Crufts and were award winners of Esther Rantzen's Hearts of Gold.

Also on the guest list is Janet Morgan whose healing hands have helped pets and their owners and there will be lots of stalls, raffles, a tombola and gifts.

The sanctuary currently had ten times the number of cats they have room for and about five times the number of dogs.

Manager Neil Martin, who has just completed his first year, said: "Somehow we have to prioritise and admit those that are most in need of our services -- the animals that most need our help, not necessarily the people."

He cited a recent example of the problems faced regularly by the staff.

He said: "About a fortnight ago a man drove on to the car park, dumped a Staffordshire bull terrier cross dog and sped off.

"The dog was very frightened, and I am not surprised after the way he was treated, but unfortunately we were not able to catch him."

A week later the dog, named Danny by sanctuary volunteers, was captured by staff but not before he had been run over by several vehicles.

Neil said: "His injuries weren't serious and he is coming round. We have a potential home for him and he will hopefully be rehomed in the New Year.

"It is true we can't always admit every animal we are asked to help, but that doesn't mean we can't offer help to to the owner, we are always willing to talk and try to help."

He said he ranked the work he had done at the sanctuary as rewarding as the time her spent in Romania after the revolution where he built a hospice for aids children.

Neil said: "Just seeing a petrified lost dog reunited with it's loving owner, or an abused animal rehomed with a caring family makes everything worthwhile."

The sanctuary has held fund-raising fairs at Ramsbottom Civic Hall this year, but proceeds have only been 40 to 50 per cent of the usual amount raised.