Around £30,000 is needed to help pay wages, bills and other general running costs at Brent Lodge.

Without that money, the wildlife hospital will not be able to look after the 3,000 or so animals it cares for every year.

After establishing itself internationally, losing the wildlife hospital would be a big blow to many people in the area – most of all founder Dennis Fenter MBE.

He said: “Brent Lodge has brought me a lot of hard work and heartache over the years, but it has done a wonderful job of saving wildlife, of which I am really proud.

“I just hope people will be able to rally round to help us before it is too late.

“There is simply not enough money coming in. It is very desperate – so desperate we have not been able to pay anyone.

“People have only got a certain amount of money to give, and now they haven’t got anything left. It is the last thing I really expected – all I can really do is live in hope.

“It has grown to a national and internationally-known centre and to fold like this after all these years is devastating. Frustration is putting it mildly.

“We have been successful at raising funds for specific projects, but the running costs are crippling us. We have used up our reserves and we can’t carry on like this any longer. We have been forced to face up to possible closure.

“There is no other large specialist wildlife hospital in the region. We are hoping against hope funds can be raised to keep us going.”

Trustee and Dennis’ wife Yvonne Graves said: “We were in this situation 12 years ago and appealed for help then. The response was absolutely amazing. Hopefully we can get the same response again.

“People keep telling us we cannot close. We are doing lots and lots of fundraising.”

The lack of funds means improvement projects at the hospital have had to be halted, and some of the hospital staff have left.

Donations can be sent to Brent Lodge Bird & Wildlife Trust, Cow Lane, Sidlesham, Chichester, PO20 7LN. Anyone wishing to volunteer should call 01243 641672.