A vital rehabilitation service for sick and injured birds of prey is hunting for cash to help it take off and deliver its message around Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press: Raptor Trust volunteer Claire Halls releasing a red kite Picture: Ian BurtRaptor Trust volunteer Claire Halls releasing a red kite Picture: Ian Burt

The Raptor Trust has been treating birds of prey since 1983 and is manned and run by a group of volunteers working from their homes.

The team is hoping to inform and educate the public to protect and conserve birds of prey and the habitat they live in.

In order to do this, they need to raise £27,000 to help create educational packs and a mobile education centre to take out in the community in Norfolk next year.

They currently have an active educational programme either directly through visits and talks to schools and other youth groups and adult organisations, or indirectly at the shows the trust attends each year.

Eastern Daily Press: Raptor Trust volunteer Claire Halls releasing a red kite Picture: Ian BurtRaptor Trust volunteer Claire Halls releasing a red kite Picture: Ian Burt

The trust, solely run by volunteers, needs more resources to be able to tailor educational packs to different organisations and educate people in the easiest way, including police, vets, farmers and members of the public.

The average cost of general rehabilitation for the Raptor Trust to care for the birds is around £4,200.

Veterinary fees are as low as they can be and the volunteers keep the costs down by providing all nursing care themselves and they all work from their own homes to reduce overhead costs for electricity, staffing and rent.

Claire Halls, a volunteer at the Raptor Trust, said: 'Over the past four years we have been working on a programme of interactive and accessible activities and displays to better engage, educate and help people connect with nature, develop an interest in our countryside and wildlife and learn outside of classrooms.'

Norfolk has a high proportion of the birds of prey that migrate to the UK each year.

Now the trust is looking at organising a week to cover a range of topics to promote the welfare of birds of prey to professionals and the public so more people can help sick or injured birds of prey and take the strain off the Raptor Trust.

In order to do this, they need the help of fundraisers and more people to come on board to volunteer.

For more information on how to support the Raptor Trust or to volunteer, call 07931423695 or email raptortrust@outlook.com