SINGER Sandi Thom is urging Scots to help save the lives of hundreds of animals facing death if an animal sanctuary is forced to close.

The performer, from Banff in Aberdeenshire, is a patron of Willows Animals Sanctuary which is struggling to cope financially due to a lack of funding in the animal welfare sector.

The centre, based near Fraserburgh, is one of many animal charities badly affected by a drop in income as regular donors feel the pinch.

Seven staff members will lose their jobs if the sanctuary closes and around 300 animals -–including horses, cats, dogs and farm animals – could be put down.

Thom, best known for her number one hit I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker, said: "Willows is one of the only sanctuaries that still takes in neglected and abandoned animals, especially horses.

"It would be a tragedy if the sanctuary was forced to close and I hope and pray that day never comes. It would be very sad and a total waste of life.

"I would not only urge Scots, but beg them to show these animals the respect that they so deserve."

Thom, 30, has been a patron of the charity for almost two years after being approached by centre staff because she grew up nearby and is an animal lover.

She claims the local community would be devastated if the sanctuary closed as it also runs a therapy centre for people with mental-health problems and learning difficulties.

The singer, who is about to release her fourth album, said: "I have visited the sanctuary several times and it's wonderful what they do there. There aren't many facilities like Willows in the UK. The closure of the centre would devastate the local community. Many vulnerable, lonely and elderly people, who often have no-one else in their life, use the animals as therapy and see them as their family.

"A lot of people who have no love in their life think these animals are a blessing, so the closure would not only affect the animals, staff and volunteers, but it would also affect the local community."

She added: "I have been helping as best I can. We just donated a guitar to the sanctuary to be auctioned off signed by myself, blues guitar legend Joe Bonamassa, Glen Hughes from Deep Purple and legendary drummer Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin's John Bonham.

"Hopefully this will raise a significant amount at auction, but ultimately what the sanctuary needs and deserves is more regular donations, however big or small."

The Herald reported in October that the sanctuary was in need of £50,000 to stay open until the New Year.

Manager Jenny Gray, who claims it costs around £15,000 a month to keep the centre open, said they have managed to raise half the money, but are still facing closure if they do not receive the rest.

Ms Gray said: "We are nearly halfway to our target which is great, but if we don't get the rest we won't survive. We have 300 animals here and more in foster homes and is we don't get enough donations and are forced to close, many of them will have to be put to sleep."

She added that the sanctuary's "vital" therapy centre would also be forced to close.

Ms Gray said: "Our Animal Assisted Therapy Programme is absolutely vital to our area as there are no other facilities like this around here. We help so many people."

The sanctuary has also received support from Free and Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers and his wife, who have sponsored 13 animals for Christmas.

Mr Rodgers has also donated 100 DVDs to be sold to raise funds for the centre.

The potential closure follows a similar threat to Mountains Animal Sanctuary in Forfar. However, those animals will be rehomed if the sanctuary is forced to close.

Anyone wishing to donate to Willows can do so at www.willowsanimals.com.