YOU'LL find them in her big shed, then there are more in the small shed, some are in the garage, in her utility room and there are even some in her bathroom.

We are talking hedgehogs, of course.

Dalton's famous "hedgehog lady" Irene Cannon has her hands full after having her busiest year yet taking care of hedgehogs through hibernation before releasing them back into the wild.

Mrs Cannon, who started the Furness Hedgehog Rescue more than 12 years ago, currently has 93 hedgehogs in her care and has several young people to help her feed and clean them out.

At the moment her day start at 6am when she cleans out the hutches she keeps them in, gives them fresh straw and feeds and waters them. The process is repeated again at night.

Of the 93 in her care, six of them require daily injections and are the ones she keeps in her bathroom by a warm radiator.

Most of the creatures are brought to her by people worried about their health, having spotted them out during the day when they should only be coming out at night.

Mrs Cannon said: "It has been a strange winter weather-wise, and this can both help and hinder hedgehogs. The wet weather can make it difficult for them to build a well-insulated nest and if they are hibernating, warmer temperatures mean their metabolism runs faster in hibernation burning off more precious fat reserves.

"However, milder temperatures can mean it is not cold enough for the hedgehogs to stay asleep."

Their health problems have been made worse by last year's wet winter. Flooding saw many hedgehogs drowned or washed out of their nests, stopping hibernation.

Wet conditions also makes it harder for the hedgehogs to find food and many of those in Mrs Cannon's care are underweight or have a problem with worms. All hedgehogs carry worms, which they can manage them, but if they become underweight or sickly the worms can get out of control and even kill the hedgehog.

Because it is not unheard of for some adults to come out of hibernation in February, Mrs Cannon is asking that people start putting out dry food (chicken-flavoured cat food is best) and also water because they are very thirsty having not had a drink for some months.

Despite having such a large number in her care already, Mrs Cannon still wants people to phone her on 01229 464829 if they have any concerns for a hedgehog they have found. The large number of hedgehogs being rescued is not just isolated to the north of England, but is being reported up and down Britain, Mrs Canon said.