A LITTER of orphaned fox cubs are being reared at a wildlife sanctuary in north Hampshire after being found abandoned.

The three cubs, who are about 10 days old, were found by a worried female passer-by who spotted one venturing outside its den in Yateley.

Mistaking it for a puppy and with no sign of any parents, she took the cub to a vet who identified it as a male red fox and went back to see if there were others.

Two brother cubs were found at the den, which lay beneath a portable loo, and were rescued from almost certain death.

They are all now being taken care of at HART Wildlife Sanctuary, in Overton, by surrogate mum June Gibbs, who bottle feeds them, puts them to bed at night and tends to their every need.

She said: "Since the cubs were brought in, I've spent most of my time taking care of them as they need a lot of attention - which hasn't been easy on my sleep pattern!

"It seems something must have happened to their parents as the father will normally gather food for the family. If he can't, then the mother will.

"However, they were both missing and the cubs were just wandering.

"They're adorable and fortunately they were brought to us just in time. They were so cold when they came in that they wouldn't have survived for much longer.

"Hopefully, I won't get too attached because it can be heart-breaking when they are set free to join other foxes."

It's not the first time the sanctuary has been home to fox cubs - last year, it took in 13. However, these are the first arrivals of 2008.

The cubs are developing well, with two of them just opening their eyes for the first time.

Mrs Gibbs will spend the next eight weeks weaning them off milk and on to puppy food. They will then go to another, more suitable, centre with greater space, before being released into the wild some time in August.

If you would like to be a volunteer at the centre, call Mrs Gibbs on 01256 770438 or log on to www.hartwildlife.org.uk for more information.