An animal wildlife charity threatened with closure is hoping a pack of beers given by ex-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney to Jeff Beck, the former Yardbirds guitarist, will help save the day.

The Folly Wildlife Rescue Centre near Tunbridge Wells treats more than 3,500 animals every year.

But it is faced with imminent closure unless it can generate additional revenue streams to cover mounting costs.

The operation, based in the Broadwater Forest, has rescued injured, orphaned and distressed wild animals and birds for more than 30 years.

But the general manager, Liz Chandler, whose parents founded the charity in 1993, said it would close at the end of the year without an influx of cash.

The wildlife hospital, which has its own veterinary and X-ray unit, and sits on a six-acre site, costs between £20,000 and £30,000 a month to operate.

Every year, thousands of wildlife casualties are treated after being injured in accidents involving some form of human activity, such as entanglement in plastic netting, fencing or fishing line, road accidents, injury caused by garden machinery, poisoning, shooting or attack by domestic pets.

Now the trust hopes it has been thrown a potential lifeline by its patron, Sandra Beck, who is the widow of the late rock guitarist Jeff Beck, who lived nearby.

Shortly before he died, Mr Beck was sent a 12-bottle case of Old Stinkhorn Organic Ale brewed by his friend, Sir Paul on his own estate in Suffolk.

Sir Paul only gives the beer to friends and it is not commercially available.

The charity plans to auction the beer, which is named after an eponymous hopping fungus, in two lots.

The auction is being conducted by Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers, on Monday, December 9, at 2pm.

Folly Wildlife would also appreciate any donations from the public towards running costs. Money can be given via JustGiving.

It is not the first time, the trust has received celebrity support.

In 2022, the actor Johnny Depp visited the hospital, causing the charity’s own Instagram following to surge from under 6,000 to over 26,000 within 12 hours.

It has also previously received support from Dave Davies of The Kinks, and from renowned wine critic and TV personality Jilly Goolden.

Earlier this month, the centre was featured on Alan Titchmarsh’s Gardening Club programme on ITV.

The wildlife rescue centre in Fairview Lane was founded by Dave Risley, a former head keeper at London Zoo, and his wife Annette, initially in the garden of their home in Eridge.

It is now managed by their daughters Liz and Hannah, with a largely volunteer workforce.