SCOTLAND'S largest horse sanctuary, which cares for more than 120 retired race and riding horses, donkeys and ponies, is at risk of closure because of a lack of funding.

Mountains Animal Sanctuary has announced plans to pay off more than one-quarter of its workforce in a desperate bid to keep the centre open and fund an annual £300,000 shortfall.

The sanctuary, based in Forfar, Angus, has been struggling financially since its founder Alan Fraser -- who provided much of the funding -- died in October last year.

The animals might have to be rehomed if the sanctuary closes, and the future of other animals which have been mistreated or abused could also be at risk.

Pam Taylor, director of Mountains Animal Sanctuary, said time is running out for the shelter.

She said: “Alan Fraser was extremely generous to Mountains and it was his dearest wish that our work in helping horses in need be continued after his death. However, we are struggling to come up with funds.

“Many of our animals will have to be rehomed and we plan to rehome as many as we can before the winter and hopefully take our numbers down to below 100.

“We’re also making four staff members redundant, which has been very difficult given the small team we have.

“I’m hoping that some of the staff will take voluntary redundancy and that will make it a little easier, but we just don’t know yet.

“Our priority now is to restructure to try to keep the sanctuary open for as long as we can, while urgently seeking donations from new supporters.

“We are cutting our costs to adjust to a lower income but, with less than four months of funds in the bank, time is running out.

“We urgently need financial help and I would call on existing and potential supporters to consider what they might do to help us.”

In the last year alone, the sanctuary received over 300 calls and emails from owners who could no longer look after their horses. However, due to the lack of funds, it has now closed its doors to non-welfare cases.

Ms Taylor added that, if the sanctuary is forced to close down completely, any remaining animals could be transferred to animal welfare centres in England.

She said: “We won’t be putting any of the animals down, we’ll try to get them rehomed elsewhere.

“The problem is that many people want an animal they can ride but many of ours are unsuitable for that and would only be suitable as a companion for other horses.

“Our priority is to raise funds and keep the sanctuary open, but if we do close and have animals remaining, we’ll have to try to have them moved to other sanctuaries -- probably down south.”

Mr Fraser left a gift of £1.4 million to the sanctuary in his will when he died. However, the charity claims that most of that money is made up of the property and land at the 260-acre site it operates from.

The centre costs around £400,000 a year to run -- a sum which was met in full by Mr Fraser while he was alive.

However, the sanctuary now receives just £100,000 guaranteed annual income from a trust fund set up by Mr Fraser, which will leave the charity £300,000 a year short.