TWO baby hares who escaped being harmed by building work are being cared for at Secret World Wildlife Rescue after they were found in a garden in Taunton.

The two babies along with a sibling that sadly didn't survive, were found by a home-owner after his dog brought them into his kitchen over the space of a few days.

It is believed the hares lost contact with their mother and nearby building work forced them to make a home in a garden close by.

The home-owner was concerned about the hares and took them to the wildlife centre in East Huntspill.

Animal carer, Marie Denton was one of the carers who assessed the hares when they arrived and said they were lucky to survive.

"Sadly, the first baby didn’t survive but the other two are doing well," Marie said.

"We doubted the other two babies would survive as they had also not received their vital milk from their mother.

"However, thanks to the home owner’s decisiveness, they were brought into Secret World just in time.

“Ideally, we really like to leave youngsters for the mother to find them, but it would appear that the hares moved into the garden because of all the construction work close to the site.

"With this and the additional danger of dogs finding them, the safest place for them is to be with us.

“We hope that by the time they are ready to be released, the building work will have been finished and they can return to the area where they were found.”

In 2017 Secret World rescued 174 hares and rabbits.

Members of the public who would like advice on how to look after wild animals or would like to report injured wildlife should call 01278 783 250.