A GWENT animal sanctuary has been saved from closure - after a "miracle" last-minute donation.

All Creatures Great and Small animal sanctuary, Llanfrechfa, was to close after failing to raise £150,000 by today.

But the Argus can exclusively reveal it has been saved - after an eleventh- hour interest-free loan from a Newport couple.

Viv Harris, (pictured) All Creatures manager, said: "We have had a miracle. "A couple from the Newport area, who wish to stay anonymous, are giving us an interest-free loan for however much we need, so we are now absolutely secure.

"I should be excited but I am just relieved and totally exhausted but I am all smiles, though.

"I had my first proper night's sleep last night for the first time in about 15 months. "British Airways donated us a bottle of champagne with £189 so I've got that ready for the celebrations."

The fight to save the sanctuary began in February, when the Argus first reported All Creatures needed £150,000 to buy out a former trustee's half-share of the farm. Viv said that they still needed to raise around £60,000 by today's deadline before the couple came forward on the weekend with the offer.

"The couple are absolutely wonderful people and don't want anything in return, all they want to do is help.

"They have supported us for years and don't want any attention and have asked not to be named.

"I didn't think people like that existed anymore but they and everyone who has helped us have been fabulous. Local people have been fantastic and the amount that we have raised has been colossal, it's staggering really.

"We have also had a great response from our Internet campaign and we had money from America, Australia, Canada, France and Germany. It's incredible to think that these people on the other side of the world care about you."

She said the campaign to raise money for the sanctuary would continue because the loan must be repaid.

"I am worried about repaying the loan so we have to keep on trying to raise funds." If anyone can offer a good home to any of the animals or would like to make a donation please contact Viv on 01633 866144.

* Do you know the identity of the sanctuary's mystery benefactor: ring the Argus newsdesk on 01633 777219.