Cat lover, 85, leaves £260,000 in will for charity

A cat lover has left £260,000 in her will to help a friend build an animal rescue centre.

Dolores Valentino Oszward, 85, surprised Shirley King, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, with the kind-hearted gesture.

The legacy means Mrs King, who has spent the last 24 years looking after animals, can work on her dream of building a permanent centre.

She said: "I didn't think she had that sort of money. She was so kind."

'Little bungalow'

Mrs King has run the STARescue charity from her home for 24 years and looks after a number of animals.

The sanctuary will also offer an education centre when built, although the project is in need of more funding.

"I was most surprised it was that much," she said.

"She only lived in a little bungalow but she was quite happy there with her animals.

"She used to visit her family in Spain and when she was away I used to look after her animals - she loved her cats."