An urgent campaign has been launched to find homes for 200 chickens destined for the slaughter lorry.

The British Hen Welfare Trust is holding re-homings in Liskeard and Redruth on Saturday, March 17 where hundreds of down-on-their-cluck hens will be hoping to start their free-range retirement in loving homes across Cornwall.

The hens are 18 months old and have been laying eggs for supermarkets to sell, or to put in processed foods like cakes and quiches.

Many of the hens are left without a home to go to and the charity is asking anyone who can provide a new lease of life to get in touch by today.

Candy Frankham, the charity’s Liskeard co-ordinator, said: ‘Spring is just around the corner so it’s a great time to give some hens a loving home and watch them settle whilst you’re out in the garden.

‘Please contact the British Hen Welfare Trust and register for some lovely ladies. Let’s do our best to save them all!’

The British Hen Welfare Trust is well-known for its work in re-homing commercial laying hens and, through its nationwide team of 600+ volunteers, has found homes for more than 620,000 hens since hatching in 2005.

Anyone interested in giving some hens a second chance is urged to register on their website at www.bhwt.org.uk and then call 01884 860084.