Cute baby hedgehogs and fluffy chicks are common guests at Ingrid Cole's Kemsley home – and one pigeon found the accommodation so comfortable it did not want to leave.

The 49-year-old mum-of-two set up Swale Wildlife Rescue with husband Chris, 44, last year.

Their garage has been transformed into an animal hospital for injured and orphaned animals and birds.

Ingrid, who is nicknamed the "bird lady" and works at The Pet Shop in Sittingbourne, said the aim was to release them back into the wild - but it did not always work like that.

"We had a pigeon found in Gas Road, near the tip, as a baby. I reared him and released him from our aviary.

"Three days later he appeared back here and started putting his head through the window. Then he came in through my son's bedroom window and walked down the stairs.

"We put him out but he was back next morning, sitting on my son's duvet looking at him."

Now known as Preep, after the book "Preep: The Little Pigeon of Trafalgar Square", a childhood favourite of Ingrid's, he has moved into the garage and is let out every day but always returns.

Ingrid's rescue work began about 11 years ago with a call for help from a friend who worked in Sittingbourne's Sainsbury's.

"They said 'You know about birds, we've had a seagull come in' and could I come and get it? I was handed a doughnut box and inside was a yellow chick."

It turned out to be a pigeon, which Ingrid Christened Doughnut, and she hand-reared it after seeking advice from Folly Wildlife Rescue, near Tunbridge Wells.

Preep the pigeon is quite at home in Ingrid Cole's Kemsley house

Ingrid continued working with Folly, but last year - with its blessing - she set up on her own.

She says she has been inundated with hedgehogs, mainly babies that have not hit the right weight to hibernate. They will stay in their new home until spring.

Baby birds helped by the couple have included two little owls, found at Milstead cricket ground, which were successfully reared and returned to Milstead.

Looking after a menagerie is costly and Ingrid said any donations would be gratefully received, either financial contributions, equipment such as hutches, or pet food.

Contact Swale Wildlife Rescue by calling 07877 280348 or visit www.swalewildliferescue.org.