A HEDGEHOG rescue charity near Okehampton is calling on people to check whether any hedgehogs are hibernating under their bonfire before striking a match on Bonfire Night.

Pam Pemberton, who runs Greatfield Hedgehog Rescue in Inwardleigh, said that any bonfire built in advance could harbour hedgehogs holed up for the winter. ’The ideal solution is to light the bonfire the day you make it, so you know there is nothing underneath, but if you can’t do that, the recommendation is to push broom handles underneath to make sure there is no wildlife in there.’

She said there had been incidents where hedgehogs had been badly scorched in bonfires. ’The British Hedgehog Society has reported it happening.’