A REPTILE rescue charity is at risk of closing for good due the financial impact of Covid-19.

Graham Martin from Bracknell started Berkshire Reptile Rescue more than 20 years ago, taking in sick, abandoned and unwanted reptiles.

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His charity would rehabilitate lizards, snakes and amphibians and see them rehomed.

Graham would also run reptile handling sessions throughout the county.

However, due the lockdown restrictions, the reptile keeper has been unable to work putting his business at risk.

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Graham said: "As Berkshire reptile encounters is my livelihood and so entangled with the rescue, I find myself without work and therefore funds with which keep the rescue and myself afloat. Food bills are kept down by breeding our own bugs and harvesting weeds but our snakes are fairly expensive to feed as well as electricity and vets bills.

"I'm hoping the GoFundMe me campaign can help us stay in business and keep going if I'm forced to stop taking in animals that could go badly for refused animals and if I have to cut my collection of show animals down, that will impede cash flow going forward and mean I will have to go in another direction." The fundraiser has a target of £3,000 in the hope it will keep his rescue afloat during Covid-19.

He said: "Our animals are not just our lively hood but our much loved pets and we would be destroyed to part with them and this would only render our ongoing efforts more difficult.

"Please find it in your hearts to find a few quid to help us on our continuing mission to educate rescue and rehabilitate."

Visit: gofundme.com/f/help-berkshire-reptile-rescue-and-encounters to donate.