ABANDONED horses have left an animal shelter struggling to make ends meet.

Happy Endings Animal Rescue Sanctuary in Sevenoaks has launched a £10,000 appeal to build field shelters after it took in 40 horses that were abandoned in fields in north Kent, including six from Dartford.

The figure has tripled in the past two years, forcing the centre to purchase more land to accommodate the horses.

Founder Chris Johns, who started the animal centre three years ago, said: "We have gone from having 15 horses to 40 in just two years, and we have adopted out 31 in that time too.

“Our finances are stretched to the limit.

"We are asking anyone who cares about animals to dig deep and help us pay for our new shelters."

Mr Johns described finding a horse tied to a lamppost and another abandoned in a field.

He said: "They all have different stories, but most are very sad.

"Some of the horses have worked hard all their lives and we have rescued them at the 11th hour from being sold for horse meat."

Mr Johns says financial crisis could be to blame as people cannot afford to keep the horses.

He said: "Horses are very expensive to keep and when people are feeling the pinch or losing their jobs, sadly it's often animals which bear the brunt."

Happy Endings is home to more than 150 animals, including 50 cats who were rescued earlier this year from a house in Dartford.

For more information about adoption or making a donation, visit happyendingsrescue.org