A LOVE of cats and a willingness to have a go at anything are the reasons why Okehampton estate agent Tracy Mortlock is going face to face with the lions on December 11.

Tracy is a volunteer for the Hatherleigh and Okehampton Cats Protection League and is helping the charity in its uphill task to raise £22,000 needed to keep the branch going next year.

The idea to go in the lions den at Sparkwell Zoo stemmed from a visit to the tourist attraction some time ago.

Tracy said: 'I had seen the den and originally thought about feeding the cubs but the chap in charge of the zoo said to me 'don't be a chicken, why don't you go face to face with the big boys' so that is how it came about

'I have always loved lions and tigers anyway and wanted to get really close to them — I just have to make sure I keep my bottle.'

Tracy, who hopes to raise £1,000 from the challenge, has also volunteered to jump in the river on New Year's Eve with the 'Hatherleigh Walruses' — a group of people who do this every year for charity.

'I am definitely the wacky one of the volunteers — to raise money I would do almost anything because we are doing such a good job at the Hatherleigh and Okehampton Cats Protection League,' she said.

'I am getting more nervous as time goes on but I think that is because I am unsure actually what I will have to do.'

Tracy, from Mary Tavy, has sponsor forms available to sign at her workplace — Fulfords Estate Agents in Okehampton — and also in Okeford Veterinary Centre.

Okehampton and Hatherleigh merged their branches of the charity last year after working separately for many years.

Already this year 212 cats have been rehomed by the local branch in addition to the many others that have been helped in some way or neutered.

In the year 2000 an annual grant of £3,000 will be received from the Cats Protection League headquarters but the estimated costs to maintain the rescue work in the Okehampton area is £25,000.

The remaining funds have to be found by the branch.

It is hoped people will support Tracy and/ or one of the other events going on to raise money — coffee mornings are being held in Chagford Parish Hall on November 20 and Winkleigh Village Hall on November 28.

For more information phone Tracy on 01822 810424 or Joan Hutchings on 01837 840610.