A caring animal-lover is helping homeless animals to feel loved this Christmas.

Nicola Haworth has made it her mission for the past three years to provide dogs and cats in animal shelters with warmth, and this year is no different.

The Glyndale Kennels employee is urging everyone in the community to donate pet food, beds and toys to Animal Concern, and give the homeless pets a special Christmas.

"I've always loved animals, and I just love helping them," Nicola said.

"I volunteered at Animal Concern when I was younger, and unfortunately I can't anymore, so I like to get the donations in for them and help out that way."

In previous years, Nicola's only drop-off point was her partner Paul Scott's pub, The Grapes Inn, Workington, but this year will be accepting donations at Glyndale Kennels.

And the Workington woman is hoping to receive even more support than before, as she feels every animal deserves love, especially at this time of the year.

She said: "These dogs and cats don't have owners to love them and treat them to presents by the fire, and they can't drool over a Christmas dinner like all other pets can, they're just stuck in a kennel.

"All they want is a home, so it's just a case of asking people to please think about these homeless pets, and if you can't take them home, then make them feel loved by giving them a toy instead."

Nicola is accepting donations from December 1 until December 22, when she will load the animal's gifts up and take them to Animal Concern's West Cumbria branch in Egremont – just in time to give them their Christmas treats.