AN Okehampton woman is on a mission to help hedgehogs by promoting an event designed to raise awareness of her prickly pals.

Lisa Mitchell is promoting Hedgehog Awareness Week, organised for May 5 to May 11 by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. She wants gardeners to carry out a few simple measures to help hedgehogs.

She said: 'I am urging people to be on the lookout for the welfare of our little garden buddies. With simple things like checking compost heaps before digging the fork in, reducing or stopping the use of pesticides, covering drains or deep holes, making easy routes out of ponds, and checking for hedges before strimming or mowing, gardens will be safer for them.

'With hedgehog numbers in decline our help is needed more than ever, and is so important. So let's do something about it and help our little garden friends. Doing a little like this can help a lot.'

The BHPS promotes the plight of hedgehogs. For more details visit http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk">www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk