ANIMAL rescue champion Diana Brimblecombe has died just a few weeks before her 96th birthday.

Mrs B, as she was known to her friends and colleagues, assisted tens of thousands of animals over the last 50 years.

The Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre in Nelsons Lane, Hurst, which opened in 2003 stands as a lasting tribute to her.

Born Diana Molloy, she was the daughter of General Roy Molloy of the Royal Marines, the Commandant at Chatham.

As a young girl her preoccupation with animals in distress became evident when she was 'confined to barracks' for smuggling injured animals past the sentries.

Having arrived in Wokingham to stay with her aunt at Claire Court, Glebelands Rd, she spent the Second World War working in factories and driving ambulances.

During that time she met and married Bill Brimblecombe and their house in Crescent Road rapidly became a haven for many unfortunate creatures.

She took on her first formal animal welfare position by becoming honorary secretary of the local RSPCA.

After moving into Britton's Farm in 1960, she converted it into an animal sanctuary, before masterminding the charity's move to a purpose-built 14-acre site in Hurst where dogs, cats, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs are among the various creatures cared for.

Mrs Brimblecombe dedicated her life to helping animals with the help of many hundreds of volunteers over the years.

She was the subject of the BBC programme Down Your Way, received a Civic Award and in 2001 was awarded an MBE for services to animal rescue.

Donations can be made by visiting the diana.brimblecombe.muchloved memorial page set up by the Animal Rescue Centre.