Animal centre open-day takes raincheck

Heavy rain has meant that Barby Keel's open day on Sunday has been postponed.

The animal rescue care centre in Freezeland Lane will now be open to the public on August 12 from 12-4pm.

Having taken the decision to hold off this popular event for another week, Barby contacted the Observer to explain that the field used for car parking for visitors was like a "quagmire".

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"Our field is under water here. There is no way we can do it," she said. "You can't get even get one car in that field at the moment, and we will have 500 cars coming in and out. You couldn't get them out - they would be stuck. It is just not possible."

Around 2,000 visitors attended the last open day and it is hoped similar numbers will come this year.

Barby had organised minibuses to bring people from Bexhill and Little Common and also paid for stickers on posters advertising the open day. She had also negotiated with Rother District Council which is carrying out roadwork for Watermill Lane to remain open for the day, but all her efforts have come to nothing.

She said: "Council said they would open Watermill Lane for the day so people could go through and now this rain has mucked everything up. But it is just one of those things."

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She has also been having problems with the large tent which shelters the 50-odd stalls which will be an important attraction on the big day which had to come down because of bad weather.

Barby said: "You can't even walk around inside the tent - it has just been disastrous. But it will be alright on the 12th...we are all very optimistic and we never get down-hearted - we just get on with it.

"Nothing ever gets us down. We are made of tough stuff. I am 72 years old, and determined to have the open day. I have been fighting for my babies for 30-odd years, and nothing is going to change."

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