HIGH WYCOMBE gardeners have been called upon to help save the lives of local wildlife by putting out food and water for them in the hot weather.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society wants people to put out bowls of water and cat food to help hedgehogs and other wildlife who suffer dehydration and lack of natural food like slugs and snails when it gets hot.

Society president Fay Vass said: "These things take just a few minutes but could really make the difference between life or death not just for hedgehogs but other wildlife too."

But Margaret Burke of the Ark Wildlife Hospital in Milton Keynes warned: "Never ever put out milk for hedgehogs, just water and they prefer meat with gravy not jelly. Only put food and water out for them at night as putting it out in the day will encourage animals to go out in the sun and this will make matters worse."

For more information on hedgehogs and how to make your garden more wildlife friendly you can send an A5 sae to: The British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 3PL.