THE ever-active British Hedgehog Preservation Society has issued another appeal for help - this time to save the lives of prickly, homeless juveniles who are facing a long, hard winter.

Late born hedgehogs - known as "autumn juveniles" - have come on the scene too late to put on the fat needed to carry them through their winter hibernation. Unless they weight at least one pound and preferably more, they do not have the necessary store of fat and are likely to die of starvation as they sleep.

Hedgehogs are rarely seen during the day so any foraging in people's gardens during daylight are likely to be desperate for food. People are urged to put out a saucer of meat-based pet food and water - but not milk, which can give them stomach upsets.