A LONG-STANDING animal charity, with a centre near Tavistock, has received a donation that will support 50 of the abandoned and cruelly-treated animals that it looks after.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue was given the money by the Wessex Group, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Every month in 2013 the company, based in Shaftesbury, Dorset, is donating '50 somethings' to a charity or good cause.

Each year the rescue centre takes in more than 1,000 abandoned, unwanted and ill-treated animals and finds them new, loving homes. The charity is the largest and oldest in Dorset, has a visitor centre in Church Knowle, Dorset, a base in Winterborne Kingston and a third centre at Wingletang, Tavistock.

The money from the Wessex Group will be used to support 50 rabbits, sheep, chicks, cats and a variety of other animals.

Wessex Group is a collection of companies that installs and maintains electrics, heating, air conditioning, plumbing, renewable energy, commercial catering equipment and fire and security systems across the south.

Joint managing director of Wessex Group Simon Morgan said: 'We want to donate 50 somethings to a wide variety of charities and good causes throughout the year. Margaret Green Animal Rescue is a well-respected, long-standing charity that works across Dorset and Devon saving animals.

'We hope the donation will help support 50 animals at the centre where they have much better lives than the ones they were facing.'