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Military veterans were able to restore a crumbling wall at a Sheffield animal shelter after good Samaritans answered a last-minute call for help.

Ex-servicemen and women from the Corps of Royal Engineers volunteered to carry out urgent repairs at Mill House Animal Sanctuary in Fulwood, but a lack of building materials and equipment nearly prevented them undertaking the huge task over the weekend.

Thankfully, two kindhearted supporters stepped forward at the eleventh hour to ensure members of the group Spuddys and Spudettes Building and Naughty Adventures could do their bit.

Even more veterans are due to descend on the site in around six weeks to complete repairs to the wall and renovate the paddock, stables and kennel blocks.

Andy Leavy (Spud), Martin McCaul and project manager Theresa Murray, from the group Spuddys and Spudettes Building and Naughty Adventures, repair the crumbling wall at Mill House Animal Sanctuary in Fulwood

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More donations and offers of accommodation for the volunteers are being sought ahead of their return, and tradespeople are being asked to lend a hand too.

The sanctuary on Mayfield Road is run by twin sisters Pat Hartley and Jane Wright, aged 77, who have been there since it was set up in 1948.

It is hoped the work will make it easier for them to continue running the shelter, which houses around 200 animals, from cats and dogs to horses.

Volunteers at Mill House Animal Sanctuary with twin sisters Pat Hartley and Jane Wright, second and third from left, who run the shelter

Shaun Kendall, a former Royal Engineer who helped organise the mission, said: “The guys worked incredibly hard this weekend and what they’ve achieved in such a short time is amazing. I can’t thank them and the people who made their work possible enough.

“We still need more people to donate money or building materials and equipment so they can complete the job when they return, and we’re also looking for people willing to put them up and for electricians, brickies and other tradespeople who are able to help.”

Eileen Jones-Hill, an accountant from Hunters Bar, donated around £1,000 to pay for building materials and also provided the veterans with free accommodation and breakfast, while Rob Horwell provided a mini-digger for the work.

Ms Jones-Hill said she stumped up the money after hearing of the sanctuary’s plight while looking for a rescue dog.

Good Samaritans help military veterans come to the aid of Sheffield animal sanctuary