Liverpool writer Carla Lane is selling original scripts of her TV series on eBay to keep her struggling animal sanctuary open.

The writer, who wrote hit series The Liver Birds and Bread, said the sanctuary would not be able to continue unless she raised more money.
Animal rights activist Mrs Lane, who famously returned her OBE to Downing Street in 2002, said she is desperate to sell the hundreds of scripts she has kept in boxes at her West Sussex home.

The sanctuary is part of an animal charity called Animaline set-up by the writer 15 years ago.

Mrs Lane said: “The sanctuary has been great and I don’t regret opening it for a moment. But I haven’t been able to work in TV for a while and keeping the sanctuary going is harder and harder.

“It’s based at my home on acres and acres of land and we have 1,000 animals from dormice to shire horses. In some ways, I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.
“It’s a shame to sell the scripts, but it’s a fact of life. I hope they can help bring in money. There are three on the internet already.”

The scripts for auction at £100 each are from Bread, which became an instant hit and lasted from 1986 to 1991, a Liver Birds Christmas special which aired in 1975, and Butterflies which starred Wendy Craig, Geoffrey Palmer and Nicholas Lyndhurst.
All three series became UK hits Šand achieved record viewing figures. The scripts are covered with Mrs Lane’s handwritten notes and amendments, and are autographed.
“It was only recently we started running the sanctuary as a charity, as it costs more and more.”

Mrs Lane’s first successes came in collaboration with Myra Taylor..
To make a donation post a cheque to: Animaline, The Lodge, Broadhurst Manor, Horsted Keynes, Nr Haywards Heath, West Sussex. RH17 7BG. England or call 01342 810596.

Posted: 09|29|07 at 9:45 am. Filed under: UK News.