Rocketing food prices threaten Spitalfields Farm's furry friends

SPITALFIELDS City Farm could lose some of its star animal attractions unless it can raise enough money to cover the rocketing costs of farm food. Bad harvests and escalating fuel costs have pushed up the price of hay so much the farm fears it will lose so

SPITALFIELDS City Farm could lose some of its star animal attractions unless it can raise enough money to cover the rocketing costs of farm food.

Bad harvests and escalating fuel costs have pushed up the price of hay so much the farm fears it will lose some of its best-loved animals, such as kune-kune pig Itchy, unless it can raise �6,000 from animal-lovers.

A campaign launched this week encourages visitors to help, with a "winter feed-bill-ometer" tallying up donations.

Farmyard manager Helen Galland said it costs around �1 per day to look after each animal properly.

She said: "People come here to see the animals. All our animals have names and a lot of people come specifically to see 'their' animal.

"For many children this is the first opportunity they get to meet animals face-to-face."

As part of the fundraising campaign, the farm is extending its sponsorship programme to include a Buy an Animal a Gift scheme.

Spitalfields City farm is in Buxton Street and is open every day except Mondays. Winter opening hours are 10am-4pm. Entry is free.

To sponsor an animal, buy an animal a gift or make a donation to the winter feed-bill-ometer, call Helen on 020 7247 8762.