A HEDGEHOG rushed to a rescue centre reeking of smoke and ‘petrol’ amid claims youths in Winsford tried to set him alight has survived his ordeal.

The adult male hedgehog, now called Phoenix, was rescued by a passerby who said she saw a group of youths surrounding him near the new Costa Coffee, Dene Drive, at around 6pm on Monday, May 6.

There was also a small fire burning nearby, and when the passerby approached, the youths ran off.

Phoenix smelled of smoke and 'some kind of liquid fuel, possibly petrol', she said. 

He was taken to Northwich Hedgehog Rescue at around 6.30pm, where Helen Gill, who runs the Boundary Street centre, said the animal was ‘clearly in shock’. 

She added: “I’ve no words to describe how I feel about this. It’s just disgraceful. I’ve no idea where these kinds of people get off."

Now, almost three weeks on, Helen says Phoenix is doing well enough to move on to a foster home, with a view to releasing him back into the wild in the near future.

She added: “Phoenix is doing really well. I’ve been testing his poop and found a couple of roundworm eggs today, but treatment will sort that out.

“He’ll be leaving me this weekend to go to one of my foster carers who has hedgehogs visiting.

"She backs on to open fields. This is the safest place he could be released.

“He's going with his posh new sleeping quarters and feeding station, bought with kind donations, and I will be sending some food to settle him in as well.

“I have used the donations made towards him for what he needs for a new chapter in his life, and to pay for his treatment.

“I’ve put the remainder towards my next medication order, which helps us help the hedgehogs which come into the centre.”

Helen said she’s ‘very disappointed’ the culprits have proved difficult to locate, and will be nearly impossible to prosecute.

She added: “There is absolutely nothing further the police or I can do. As it stands, all I can prove is I had a hedgehog in which smelled of smoke, but that’s it.

“I am very disappointed that this can go nowhere as the people who can identify the culprits now want nothing to do with it.

“The only thing I can do now is make sure he’s fully fit for release, and give him his own things to go with.”

A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “The Winsford beat team is looking into reports a group of youths tried to set fire to hedgehogs on land by Costa Coffee in the town.

“The team is currently liaising with a rescue charity which is treating one of the hedgehogs.

“The incident occurred on Monday, May 6, sometime between 6pm and 6.30pm.

“There have been no arrests. Enquiries are continuing into the identity of those responsible. Anyone with information should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via the website quoting IML 1817123.

“Alternatively, information can be given anonymously by contacting Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”