A Lewisham cat sanctuary is unable to save animals in “desperate need” of their help after two of their ambulances broke down.

The Celia Hammond Animal Trust in Lewisham Way is fundraising to buy two new vans so it can respond to urgent call outs.

The trust receives about 25 calls a day, most of which rely on the vans to rescue unwanted, abandoned, stray or feral cats.

A spokeswoman for the charity said: “With just one active rescue vehicle left in operation in Lewisham, it is now near impossible for the team to respond to the amount of urgent and emergency call outs.

“As such, we are simply not reaching animals in desperate need of our help.

“With your support, we can quickly get back up and running and continue to save more cats in need.”

The charity anticipates each van will cost £5,000 and will need to be reliable, as rescue work is often carried out at night and in the early hours, and be fit for purpose with space for cat carriers, and air con to make sure the animals are comfortable.

The online appeal has raised £7,600 of its £10,000 target.

A message to supporters on the JustGiving page says: “This is a huge, huge ask from our supporters.

“All donations will be gratefully received, moving us that one step closer to getting back on the road!”