A VERY prickly character visited Cirencester Library this week when Help a Hedgehog Hospital delivered a talk on how to protect the spiky mammals.

The room full of youngsters bristled with excitement as Mary Hinton, who cares for hedgehogs in Tetbury, explained how to spot signs of a sickly critter and how to care for animals in need - before revealing the spiny star of the show.

Mary explained: “Hedgehogs need to be at least 600 grams to have a chance of hibernating safely so we tell people to interfere positively, to weigh them.”

She said that last winter Help a Hedgehog Hospital, which has volunteers across the region and recently became a registered charity, took in 175 of the animals and kept them safe during their winter hibernation.

While some hedgehogs may look large and healthy, Mary urged those present at the library to try to weigh every one they saw to make sure that any unwell or underfed creatures get the care they need to survive.

At this time of the year, there is an added danger for hedgehogs in the form of bonfires being built and lit.

Mary advised people to check their bonfire for hedgehogs and, ideally build them on the day they are to be burnt so the animals don't have time to get inside.

She also urged people to contact the charity if they find a hedgehog that needs looking after.

For more information on the charity, visit helpahedgehog.org