Twenty-three baby hedgehogs have a comfy billet for the winter at Wildlife Aid but without the help of the animal charity the little creatures would die.

Hedgehogs come into the centre in Leatherhead for many reasons: some are attacked by badgers - the only natural predator of a hedgehog, some are hit by cars and many get caught in chain-link fences or chicken wire in people’s gardens.

The centre has even seen hedgehogs caught up in the plastic ties used to hold drinks cans together, or hogs with their heads caught in flowerpots and watering cans.

They can also suffer from lungworm - a condition which if left untreated would claim many lives over the winter months.

The changing climate may also have a hand in the increased numbers hedgehogs at risk.

Milder winters lead to hedgehogs not getting the instinct to hibernate, only to be caught out by a sudden cold spell.

Their food source – mainly slugs and worms – disappears underground, and they can starve to death.

This week Wildlife Aid asked people to check around their gardens for hedgehogs, especially at dusk when they are most active and to double check chain-link or chicken wire-type fencing to ensure than no animals are trapped.

It costs over £100 to over winter a hedgehog, and Wildlife Aid is appealing for help to meet the costs.