RSPCA West Hatch has won £300 from the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund - with the animals, staff and volunteers all set to get some goodies.

The initiative looks to help small, local community groups and charities across the UK to support 'warm-hearted people and projects'.

Organisers felt RSPCA West Hatch - which cares for neglected and cruelly treated domestic animals, giving them the veterinary treatment, care and support they need to recover and find new homes - was an ideal scheme.

The centre also offers support to more than 4,000 sick and injured wild animals, including seal pups, otter cubs, birds, hedgehogs and badgers, by nursing them back to full health and ready to return to the wild.

Centre manager Bel Deering said: "This donation from the Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund means that we can now enrich the lives of all of our animals by providing them with healthy winter snacks.

"We are also delighted to receive Galaxy Hot Chocolate for our fifty volunteers and staff, ideal for post dog walk or aviary cleaning relaxation.”

Michelle Frost, spokeswoman for Galaxy Hot Chocolate, said: “We know that across the UK and Ireland smaller charities and community groups are struggling to make ends meet despite the efforts of a huge number of warm-hearted volunteers.

“The Galaxy Hot Chocolate Fund aims to give them a helping hand and hopefully inspire more people to get involved.”

The fund will distribute five £300 awards to deserving recipients every week.