A GENEROUS homeowner has sold her house in Stourport and donated the proceeds to help protect rescued moon bears in Asia.

Chris Coldrick had already raised more than £7,000 for Animals Asia through a skydive and street collections around Worcestershire before she decided to donate a six-figure sum from the sale of her three-bed semi to the cause.

The retired teacher is the regional co-ordinator for the charity - which protects bears in China and Vietnam - and had planned to leave her second Stourport property to support the sanctuary in her will.

But when coronavirus hit and Chris' planned collections had to be cancelled - just when Animals Asia was preparing to build another sanctuary in Vietnam - she decided to act.

Chris said: "I was planning to leave the house to the charity in my will, but there were several things prior to coronavirus that they needed the money for.

"The charity has to build another sanctuary in Vietnam as they're being allowed to have all bears on farms by 2022, which requires a colossal amount of money.

"There are bears in China that are still on a farm but this is being run by Animals Asia, so they want to move them to a sanctuary as the environment isn't suitable.

"This was already going to cost a lot of money and then coronavirus hit, so they needed even more.

"I said I haven't got any plans to die soon, so I best sell it now while they need it."

Chris is urging others to take part in Animals Asia’s latest fundraising campaign, where an anonymous benefactor has pledged to match donations made to the charity.

She said: "I have supported Animals Asia for many years and have been proud to be part of an amazing organisation determined to put an end to bear bile farming in Asia.

“Having had the privilege to visit the charity’s award winning sanctuaries in China and Vietnam, I have seen first-hand the incredible work they do."

The campaign runs until 30 June. Visit animalsasia.org/matchmygift.