WORK has started to build an animal rescue shelter for West Dorset.

RSPCA supporters have been raising cash for the centre near Dorchester for more than four years, after launching a £500,000 appeal.

Now their hard work has finally paid off after long-serving supporter of the charity Olive Chapman cut the first piece of turf for the development at Kingston Maurward College.

Mrs Chapman, 85, who has been a supporter of the RSPCA for more than 60 years, said she was delighted to dig the first piece of turf and realise her dream of seeing an animal shelter for West Dorset.

It is hoped that the centre, which will include a 20-pen cattery, six-pen isolation block and facilities for smaller animals including rabbits and guinea pigs, will be open by late summer.

Val Morton, treasurer for the RSPCA's West Dorset Branch, said the new centre is to be known as Taylor's in memory of Mary Taylor of Rodden, whose donation to the appeal made it possible to start work on the scheme.

Taylor's is being built by Acheson Construction on land leased to the branch.

Mrs Morton said: "Taylor's will cost in excess of £80,000 a year to run and continued local support is vital to us.

"Money for local activities has to be raised locally by the West Dorset branch, which is a charity in its own right."

She added that a Friends of Taylor's group was being set up to help raise the funds.

Membership of the friends is a minimum of £8 a year and for that friends receive a welcome pack and regular updates on the shelter.

For further information on becoming a friend of the shelter telephone 01305 259672, email mail@westdorsetrspca.org or write to PO Box 5460, Weymouth, DT3 6WH. Information is also available at www.westdorsetrspca.org

Donations can be sent to Mrs J Gladwin-White, Providence Cottage, Broad Lane, Bridport DT6 5LA.