Painting to boost circus bears appeal

A PAINTING worth hundreds of pounds can be won for just £2 thanks to a kind-hearted artist who donated it to raise funds to rescue three mistreated circus bears.

Wildlife artist Gordon Corrins created the artwork – a portrait of a bear – for West Lothian’s Five Sisters Zoo appeal.

Now the picture will be sold in a raffle, with proceeds boosting funds needed to rescue Suzy, Carmen and Peggy from a cramped holding centre in Belgium to a specially built enclosure at the West Calder zoo.

Several thousand pounds has flooded in over the past few weeks, taking the amount raised to £53,688.

A total of £80,000 is needed to transport and rehome the bears, who spent two decades of hardship in a travelling circus, living in cramped cages measuring just 10m square.

The campaign had initially hoped to save the trio in time for Christmas.