AN animal lover from Stretford saved a litter of puppies from certain death when their mother fell ill.

Isobel Roberts, of Derwent Road, volunteered to look after the 10 helpless Yorkshire Terriers when they were brought in to the Peggy Henderson Animal Sanctuary in Sale.

Helped by a friend, Kay Rooney, she nursed the animals back to health, staying up for three nights to feed them every hour.

The nine dogs and one bitch were discovered at the home of an elderly man from Hulme earlier this month. His 15 month-old pet, Sally, had become pregnant without him knowing, and the patter of tiny feet soon followed.

One of his neighbours, Jane Nuttall, went round to the house to find that Sally was extremely ill and unable to look after the litter.

She tried to look after the puppies herself, but when their condition deteriorated she took them to the animal sanctuary.

Isobel, who already has five dogs, was at the sanctuary when the stricken pups arrived, and she agreed to take them in.

She said: "I didn't think they would all survive, especially the three little ones, but after a few days they got their energy back."

Sally and her month-old babies are all now fully recovered. Isobel is looking after the litter for the next few weeks, before sending them to new homes.