A woman from Crosland Moor has graduated from rehoming rabbits to offering unwanted rodents a lifeline.

Linda Clayton has set up a rescue service caring for mice at her home.

The 63-year-old former foster carer said: “Mice are the poor relations of the animal kingdom. Nobody wants to rescue mice.

“I have always adored animals and had all kinds of them all my life.

“A few weeks ago I had taken on two mice who needed rehoming and within a fortnight I had 12!

“I then saw an appeal on a TV show to rehome some mice called The Spice Mice.

“I got in touch with the producers and was selected to rehome them. I went to the show's base in Birmingham and was briefly featured on the programme.

“There were five of them and they were called the Spice Mice as they are all different colours.

“Sadly one of them died, so I have rehomed four of them.”

Linda has been caring for animals all her life and ran a rabbit rehoming service for years but was forced to give up last year.

She added: “I have rehomed animals before but I was forced to give up in December when I suffered from pneumonia.

“I was just starting to get set up again and decided to focus on just mice.

“It coincided with the TV appeal on Give a Pet a Home.

“I now have 13 mice and I am looking to rehome five of the young males,” said Linda.

“Mice were the first animal I came across as a young child after I found a dead one in the garden. I wanted my mother to bring it back to life and she explained she couldn’t so we buried it in the garden. I’ve always been fond of them ever since.”

Linda calls her service Kairos Mouse Rescue. Kairos is the same name as her former rabbit rescue service and is the Greek word for opportunity.

Linda uses her own garage to house some of the mice and has turned her back garden into a wildlife haven.

Anyone who would like to rehome a mouse can get in touch with Linda on 07531 665992.