A VETS surgery in Swindon has promised to do all it can to help the town's hedgehogs.

A pair of stricken spiny mammals were taken in to Eastcott Vets with serious leg injuries. Helga and Hettie both needed surgery but Hettie later died.

Alina Baldin was the vet on call when Hettie and Helga were taken in to Eastcott and she had to perform both surgeries to save them.

She said: “Hettie was brought in and she was missing most of her left hind leg, which I removed. Then another was brought in with an infection and so we removed her left hind leg.

“Hedgehogs are on the decline so we will do whatever we can do to help these cute little animals.”

After the surgery, the hedgehogs were taken to Oak & Furrows Wildlife Rescue in Cricklade but only Helga made a full recovery.

A spokesperson for Oak & Furrows said: “Hettie died after she came to us.

“She was quite small and underweight but it can be quite a traumatic experience. There were complications after the surgery.

“We’re all really upset that she didn’t make it. The vets at Eastcott did absolutely all they could to help the hedgehogs, there was nothing they could have done to save her.”

Helga will be moved to an enclosed garden where she can be safe and she will be at a lower risk of being attacked by predators.

Staff at Eastcott Vets are running in Sunday's Swindon Half Marathon to raise money for Oak & Furrows.

Alina said: “It costs them a lot of money to look after any sick or injured babies and they rely on public donations for help to keep going.”

To support the Eastcott Vets team see https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/eastcott-vets1