AN animal lover has been rewarded for her work rehoming hens and saving them from slaughter.

The British Hen Welfare Trust gives awards to volunteers who have completed both six and 12 years of service.

Amy Hamilton has volunteered for the charity’s Essex team for six years, helping to rehome hens in Great Totham.

The charity works to rehome ex-commercial hens instead of them being sent to slaughter and ending up as pies or pet food.

Amy started volunteering after making it her mission to help as many chickens as she could.

She wants to show people that chickens are no different to other animals.

She said: “My favourite thing about volunteering...well, could it be the pecks on the arm, the chook poop flicked at you, the sometimes horrid weather. All of it.

“I've made some great friends and it feels so rewarding to help these beautiful souls.

“The best thing for me is showcasing these wonderful creatures and showing people they are no different to other animals.

"It was so touching to receive my award. It was unexpected and came at a tough time so it brightened me up.

“It's a beautiful reminder of how with a bit of passion we can all help animals. They deserve it - it's for the hens too."

The trust was founded in 2005 and works to improve hens welfare across commercial and domestic sectors.

It provides education to consumers about caged eggs hidden in processed foods and works closely with DEFRA and other agencies to improve the lives of hens everywhere.

Founder of the British Hen Welfare Trust Jane Howorth said: “My eternal gratitude goes to each and every volunteer who has given up their time to help rehome hens.

“The feelgood factor I get each Monday knowing that thousands of hens are now waking up to start their free-range retirements, instead of the alternative, is immense and it simply wouldn’t be possible without our network of over 1,200 volunteers.

“Whether you’ve volunteered once or hundreds of times – thank you.”

To find out more about the charity’s work visit www.bhwt.org.uk.