A SWINDON animal lover is planning to travel to Northern Ireland to rescue 150 abused ferrets.

Dawn Bradfield, 45, of Redcliffe Street, is borrowing a van to drive to County Antrim to rescue ferrets discovered in a "vile condition" by police last weekend.

Dawn, who has four ferrets of her own - Rosie, Fudge, Missy and Roman - said: "I got my first ferret three years ago. Then I got ferret madness. One is never enough.

"I have a friend who's got 31, so I look quite restrained compared to her.

"A friend in Belfast told me about these animals being discovered, knowing that I love ferrets. I felt I had to do something about it.

"As soon as they're well enough to travel we'll go out and get them.

"Some of them were in such a bad state, they had started eating each other.

"Some have already had to be put down because they didn't have a hope."

Once rescued, members of the Hants and Berks Ferret Club, based in Reading, will then foster a few of the animals each and nurse them back to health until new homes can be found.

"I have space for about six extra ferrets in my home, but will probably only take in about four because they won't have been handled much and will need a lot of attention," said Dawn, who is a member of the ferret club.

"When they're better the idea is to find new homes, but I might fall in love with them and have to persuade my husband to let me keep them."

Dawn, pictured, said her husband Bob, 42, who works for the National Trust, was not a huge fan of her pets - but she has to put up with his parrot.

Dawn and the other club members have borrowed a van for the trip, which is expected to take 11 hours each way.

"We have also been offered bed and breakfast. It might seem like a holiday, but I'm pretty sure it won't be much fun with the smell in the van on the way back. These animals won't have been neutered, so they will have a lot of raging hormones."

Irish Ferries have donated a free crossing so they can take the animals to safety because there are no ferret rescue charities in Northern Ireland.

After speaking to the RSPCA, they have been advised to take a vet with them to keep tabs on the animals' welfare but have not yet found one.

Dawn is appealing to any ferret-loving vets in the Swindon area who may be able to help to get in touch.

She is also asking people to donate any old fleece jackets for bedding.

Anybody who can help Dawn's rescue mission should call her on 01793 619887.

Ferret facts
The ferret - mustela putorius furo - is a member of the mustelid family, which includes weasels and stoats.
· Ferrets can be traced back to 1500BC and were kept by the Ancient Egyptians and Greeks.
· Queen Elizabeth I used to give them as gifts.
· For hundreds of years, ferrets have been used for hunting.
· They live, typically, for between six and 10 years.
· They spend up to 18 hours a day asleep but are very active once awake.
· Ferrets have a reputation for smelling but are fine if their cage is cleaned regularly.
· They were used to run the TV and sound cables through conduits for Prince Charles' wedding to Lady Diana Spencer.