An animal sanctuary is appealing for help to keep financially afloat after an unexpected slump in income.

The Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary, in Stadhampton, near Berinsfield, was launched 40 years ago by Margaret Gray who remains the charity's chairman.

The now 90-year-old started out with seven other women in 1967 when they pooled resources, each giving 10 shillings (50p) to take care of stray dogs.

Four decades on, the sanctuary now has 18 members of staff and it costs £500,000 a year to look after 130 dogs, nearly 180 cats, 60 rabbits and a selection of guinea pigs, goats and sheep.

Mrs Gray, of Blandford Avenue, North Oxford, said: "The number of legacies has gone right down and we don't turn any animals away. It's getting really serious."

Sanctuary warden Maggie Whalen added: "We are very full and we could certainly do with more donations."

John Lord, external accountant for the charity, who works for Brookwood Accountancy in Kidlington, confirmed that the number of legacy donations was down this year.

He added: "We have benefited from some very big legacies in the past - one of the most recent ones was more than £400,000. Legacies account for a substantial part of the total donations we receive but obviously we cannot control when we get legacies, so we need more donations, and people coming to the centre to give the animals a home.

"Twenty-two years ago, I took a St Bernard home to give him a two-week break and I ended up calling him Boots and keeping him for seven years before he died. I was looking for a big dog and he turned out to be a fantastic animal.

"The sanctuary relies on a combination of legacies, donations and the contributions generated by the four shops run by volunteers.

"People get a great deal of pleasure from looking after their pets and then feel moved to leave us these legacies.

"There is always pressure on space and a need for funds in order for us to continue with our non-refusal policy."

Mr Lord explained that animals were brought to the centre when their owners died, or if they had been abandoned.

At present, the charity has four shops in Witney, Carterton, Summertown and Didcot and more could be established in future.

Mr Lord said the charity was planning to create a website and provide a facility for people to make donations using a credit card.

The sanctuary has a high-profile president - the famous writer and painter Dr Desmond Morris, who lives in North Oxford. Anyone wanting to make a donation can make a cheque payable to Oxfordshire Animal Sanctuary or call 01865 890239 for details.