A DEVON-based charity which re-homes caged hens across the UK has celebrated its most successful year to date.

The British Hen Welfare Trust, which holds regular re-homing events at South Zeal, has given nearly 70,000 hens a new life as family pets during the last 12 months.

It comes after a successful year in which the website JustGiving named the trust as its charity of the year.

The BHWT, based at Rose Ash near South Molton, steps in to rescue hens destined for slaughter when they come to the end of their commercial egg laying lives at just 18 months old.

The hens are taken on by individuals who give them a new life of freedom, returning to the picture of health as family pets who have the added benefit of laying eggs.

During 2018, the charity secured 11,810 adoptions, equating to 69,756 hens finding new homes.

Charity founder Jane Howorth MBE said: ‘To have re-homed nearly 70,000 hens this year is phenomenal, that’s 70,000 feathery family pets now enjoying life.

‘On top of this we were crowned JustGiving charity of the year during 2018 – a year which has also seen us begin working with a globally renowned avian vet to help improve treatments for pet hens, and collaborate with Defra and Scottish and Welsh governments to improve communications with pet hen keepers. I’m very proud of what my hardworking team of staff, volunteers and supporters collectively achieve and look forward to continuing to put hens firmly on the map as the fabulous family pets they deserve to be.’

The charity held its most recent re-homing event at South Zeal on Saturday (December 29).