THE RSPCA has revealed it received nearly 900 reports of sick, neglected or abused animals in Oxfordshire in the run-up to Christmas 2016.

For the month of December last year, the charity said it took 889 calls from this county alone.

That included 31 calls on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day about animals at risk.

The RSPCA revealed the figure as it braces itself to take an estimated 2,000 calls every day nationally this month, including approximately 30 a day from Oxfordshire.

Charity bosses appealed for more public help, including volunteers to care for the sick animals it takes in.

The animal welfare charity expects to take in about 19,000 animals in need this December and January and said it desperately needs help to care for them.

Superintendent Simon Osborne said: "It’s a sad fact that every day at work throughout the year can be tough for our inspectors and animal welfare and collection officers, but winter really does come with its own challenges and issues.

"In fact, we expect to take in somewhere in the region of 19,000 animals this winter alone."

To help the RSPCA to continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in need of care, and to support the charity’s ‘kindness’ campaign, visit rspca.org.uk/winterappeal