Tributes pour in for hedgehog charity founder

Tributes have been paid to a much-loved Cambridgeshire hedgehog rescue charity founder, who has died aged 49.

Heather Johnson opened Heather's Hedgehog Hostel at her home in Chatteris in 2014 and was recognised in her community for her tireless work caring for the animals.

Ms Johnson, who had also worked as a teacher, died on 17 June in hospital.

Her website posted: "Heather was, and will continue to be, a huge inspiration to us all."

Hundreds of tributes were posted on social media.

Cathy Gibb de Swarte, from Littleport, said: "Heather's Hedgehog Hostel legacy will live on forever. I for one will dearly miss Heather who truly was and will always be an inspiration to us all."

Another user posted: "Such sad news. I only met Heather once last year when I took a poorly hedgehog to her but I was so inspired by her and immediately took to her. She was so lovely and totally dedicated to helping the hedgehogs."

A third tribute read: "I was lucky enough to meet Heather last year when she collected a hedgehog I had found. She was a remarkable human being and the world is a sadder place without her."

Heathers Hedgehog Hostel said in a statement: "Heather's life was dedicated to her two passions - supporting children and rescuing animals, describing this herself as 'nothing else I'd rather do, and nowhere else I'd rather be'."

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.