THE RSPCA is asking for help as it braces itself for the busiest day of the Christmas period today, Tuesday.

The animal welfare charity's 24-hour emergency hotline received 55,821 calls in December last year, of which 2,640 came on December 11.

In Cheshire, 801 calls came in during December 2017, and 2,534 over the winter period.

RSPCA chief executive, Chris Sherwood, said: “The RSPCA is a charity but we work 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure that there is always someone available to help an animal in need.

“This Christmas is no different and we’re expecting thousands of members of public to contact our emergency hotline over the holidays asking for help.

“That’s why we’ve launched our Kindness At Christmas fundraising appeal to help cover some of the costs we’ll face this winter. A donation of just £3.80 help us answer a call for help while £15 helps us keep an inspector on the road for a day.”

The RSPCA remains open over Christmas with call handlers, inspectors, animal centre workers and veterinary staff giving up their family time to help look after the animals and respond to calls for help.

Over the Christmas period, the charity will deal with thousands of reports of animal cruelty.

Last year, this included 1,220 Christmas Eve calls, 726 on Christmas Day, 1,268 on Boxing Day and 1,306 on New Years Eve.

Based on the last three winters, the RSPCA expect more than 10,000 animals to be taken into care this winter.

rspca.org.uk/giftofkindness