A team of volunteers from Douglas-based accountancy firm Grant Thornton ventured to Foxdale to lend a helping hand to the ManxSPCA.

The 15 members of staff spent the day applying a fresh lick of green paint to the railings at Ard Jerkyll and pressure washing the exterior of the buildings and surrounding area.

During their visit they also had the saw some of the animals and birds and were given a tour of the facility.

As part of its ’Growing Together in the Community’ scheme, over the years the firm has been involved with a wide range of community organisations including volunteering at Willaston School and donating to Age Concern Isle of Man.

Richard Ratcliffe, director at Grant Thornton Isle of Man, said: ’As part of one of the world’s largest accountancy firms, we believe we have the global scale, resources and commitment to make a real and positive difference in the communities where we live and work. That is why each year our staff dedicate time to helping in any way we can.

’We had a truly fantastic day at Ard Jerkyll - the work that the charity does here in the Isle of Man is inspirational and we were delighted to be able to do our bit for them. The volunteers and staff are committed to caring for injured and abandoned animals and it was touching to hear the different stories and experiences.’

Juana Warburton, general manager at ManxSPCA, said: ’On average we take in around 1,600 creatures every year and sadly, that number is rising. That means our team of staff and volunteers are busy caring for the animals and making sure their needs are taken care of, so time-consuming maintenance jobs often get forgotten about!

’The team from Grant Thornton did a fantastic job at Ard Jerkyll - they were all happy to help and did so with a big smile on their faces, despite the tedium of the tasks. Their efforts have made a huge difference to our outside area and we are delighted with how smart the fence is looking - a big thank you indeed!’