The RSPCA's East Norfolk branch is hoping to double the size of its cattery if it wins a share of £500,000.

Still struggling to cope with the number of unwanted cats being taken to the Broadland Cattery in Ingham, near Stalham, the charity is now bidding for cash from grant-giving animal charity Support Adoption for Pets.

Launched in 2006, Support Adoption For Pets has raised £10 million for animal welfare organisations over the last eight years and, to celebrate, has pledged ten grants of £50,000 to animal charities across the UK.

RSPCA East Norfolk, which covers the Great Yarmouth borough from Hopton in the south to the Broads villages in the north, is now the running for a £50,000 grant after submitting a video to Support Adoption For Pets' Facebook page.

As previously reported in the Mercury, the RSPCA runs at the Broadland Cattery run by Lesley Rogers has been so full for almost a year, it's becoming harder and harder for the charity to take in sick and injured animals.

In their video bid, branch manager Debs Cook explained: 'We have seven cat runs for the RSPCA and when they are full we have no where else for these animals to go. The plan is to renew this block and build another seven on the back, giving us more facilities to take in more animals and then rehome them.'

The charity wants to extend the runs, adding seven more, and upgrade the isolation block to provide special care to injured cats before they can be rehomed.

To win the money, members of the public must vote for the branch via Facebook.

'For an organisation like ours, receiving such a large donation would make a huge difference to the work we do,' said Debs, calling for as much support as possible.

'We're keeping all of our fingers - and paws – crossed and hoping that the local community will vote for us.'

Amy Wilson, charity manager at Support Adoption For Pets, said: 'We've been overwhelmed with the quality of the videos we've received so far. The £50,000 grants are available to all animal rescue centres and welfare organisations - big or small. This is a fantastic opportunity for charities to receive a significant donation towards their individual fundraising projects.'

To vote, head to www.facebook.com/SupportAdoptionForPets.