An RSPCA rescue centre has seen a startling rise in the number of ferrets being abandoned.

Bosses said they were getting calls about ferrets in need every day for two months in the spring of this year.

Some stray or abandoned ferrets were even turning up themselves at the centre, in Martlesham, thought to be because they were either abandoned in the driveway or attracted to the smell of those already there.

Now, the centre is hoping it can win some funding in a national competition to help pay for new accommodation for the furry creatures.

Dave Mitchell, manager of the animal centre, said: “This year has seen an unusually high number of ferrets being abandoned.

“There’s no particular reason why, but it could be because of the recession.”

Mr Mitchell said the centre, run by the Suffolk East and Ipswich branch, would normally take in about ten stray or abandoned ferrets a year, but in the springtime calls were coming in every day.

He said RSPCA inspectors “had never experienced anything like it before”.

The centre currently has 13 ferrets on site, but the current accommodation is in a poor state and needs replacing.

This could cost more than �25,000 and the centre is hoping to secure �6,000 of that by getting people to vote for its entry in the NatWest Community Force initiative.

Supporters can vote at http://communityforce.natwest.com/project/2475.