Distraught animal sanctuary owner collapses into mud as bailiffs arrive to evict her following legal battle over mortgage arrears

 

• Paula Campbell, 47, was admitted to hospital after the repossession
• She had cared for animals at sanctuary in County Durham for 20 years
• Cost of supporting vulnerable animals at site financially crippled her

By Mark Duell

This dramatic photograph shows the moment a distraught animal sanctuary owner collapsed in the mud moments after bailiffs arrived to evict her from her farm.
Paula Campbell, 47, was so overcome with grief that she was admitted to hospital after the repossession of the Rainbow Ark Animal Sanctuary in Willington, County Durham.
She has devoted 20 years to looking after sick and homeless animals and her sanctuary has successfully re-homed thousands of cats and dogs throughout the North-East.

Collapse: Paula Campbell (on the ground), 47, was so overcome with grief she was admitted to hospital after the repossession of the Rainbow Ark Animal Sanctuary in Willington, County Durham

Work: Ms Campbell has devoted 20 years to looking after sick and homeless animals and her sanctuary has successfully re-homed thousands of cats and dogs throughout the North-East

But the cost of supporting these vulnerable animals at the site on Milkup Bank Farm was financially crippling Ms Campbell, with food bills alone amounting to £1,000 monthly.
Following years of court cases and appeals, bailiffs acting on behalf of Redstone Mortgages arrived to take possession of the sanctuary due to thousands of pounds owed in payment arrears.

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The animal lover, her relatives and volunteers staged a desperate last stand as bailiffs moved in.
A large wooden pole and a tree trunk were laid across the track while the protesters blockaded the main gate with a van and Land Rover. But the anguish became too much and she fell to the ground.
Her daughter Jayne was allegedly given five minutes to gather all her possessions and her pet dogs and get off the land she was now trespassing on.

Unhappy story: The cost of supporting these vulnerable animals at the site on Milkup Bank Farm was crippling Ms Campbell, with food bills alone amounting to £1,000 monthly

Aerial view: The Rainbow Ark Animal Sanctuary was located at this farm in Willington, County Durham

Ms Campbell had since discharged herself from hospital but was still said to be in shock. Efforts were still being made to relocate more than 300 animals living at the sanctuary.

'It's been a horrible ordeal for the animals - two of our cats have run away and the dogs were obviously scared'
Jayne, Paula Campbell's daughter

Her daughter said: ‘It’s been a horrible ordeal for the animals as well - two of our cats have run away and the dogs were obviously scared.'
She said they will now fight for the sanctuary through the courts, adding: ‘My mum is a hard woman and a real fighter, but she was just tired with it after fighting these people for so long.’
In July 2012, Ms Campbell was given a reprieve to raise the £25,000 she needed to pay off the arrears, but she was unable to do so.