Volunteers mounted a rescue operation after the floods threatened a Newent animal sanctuary.

New Start Cat Rescue put out an SOS on Facebook after the water started running into their Malswick cattery.

Volunteers made terrifying journeys from all over Gloucestershire to reach the centre and worked through the night to make sure the 25 cats were safe and well.

But they are still on red alert in case the same thing happens again.

The drama started when the water started running off a nearby road and surrounding fields on Saturday night.

Around 4in of water filled the pens,

lifting up litter trays and food bowls.

"Around midnight we had to evacuate the cats," said Homing Officer Louise Barrow.

"We had volunteers coming from all over to help."

Around a dozen volunteers braved flooded roads and torrential rain to reach the sanctuary.

Working through the night, they moved 25 frightened cats from the flooded pens to a dry stable close to the centre's isolation blocks.

"It was quite bad," said Louise.

"We finished tipping buckets of water out of the kitchen at around 4 o'Clock in the morning."

"The pumps haven't done anything and we are still on flood alert."

Trenches have now been dug to divert flood water if the rain rolls in once more.

But the charity has now put out an appeal for money and clean bedding.

Facebook for New Start Cat Rescue Charity.