Pupils from Sheldwich Primary School released ten hedgehogs into the wild last Tuesday.

With the help of Doctor Who actress Susan Jameson and her husband James Bolam, of New Tricks and Likely Lads, the prickly creatures were set free at Lees Court Estate near Badlesmere.

They had been in the care of Andrew's Hedgehog Hospital in Appleby, near Scunthorpe in north Lincolnshire.

Frank Tett, who runs the hospital with his wife Veronica, chose the spot near Faversham as they believed the hedgehogs would flourish there.

"We look around the country for what we call safe sites, where we can release hedgehogs," he said.

"We always try to find the safest places. If where they come from is safe and there's plenty of hedgehogs there, we always release them back into the wild there, but in so many places that's not the case."

Hedgehogs ideally need to be away from motorways, agricultural land where they could be sprayed with pesticides and importantly, from badgers, who like to prey on them.

A group of 17 pupils from the ages of three to 11 took part in the event, during which they learned why the species has become so endangered in recent years and how to protect them.

"They are the ones that are going to have to save these animals. If you take a figure of 100 hedgehogs that were alive when I was a small boy, there's now only four left. 96% have gone.

"We gave them the basics of hedgehogs and why their generation is going to be the ones that are going to help save our little prickly friends from extinction," Frank continued.

"It was an absolutely fantastic day," Veronica said.

"The children enjoyed it, the teachers enjoyed it, we enjoyed it and the hedgehogs had a ball."

The couple, who have nursed injured hedgehogs back to health since 1993 and welcomed more than 500 in to their home last year alone, now want to set up hoglet clubs in primary schools across the country.

They hope to return to Lees Court Estate to release more hedgehogs in future.

To donate to Frank and Veronica's hospital, go to www.andrewshedgehoghospital.org.uk.