A Berkshire wildlife centre has released an appeal for help with "crippling" energy bills after receiving no support from the government this winter.

The Living Rainforest, located in Hamstead Norrys, is an indoor attraction in West Berkshire that allows visitors to see rainforest plants and animals year-round.

Due to skyrocketing energy costs, the business is at a point where they are struggling to cover its winter electricity and heating costs.

Although the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said that it was offering support during the coming months, the Living Forest has not benefited from these.

The center's electricity costs are running at up to £9,000 a month and have gone up two or three times.

Mr Hansen told the BBC: "Since the Ukraine war, our energy costs have gone through the roof.

"It took us months to jump through all the application hoops and we were finally informed that we were eligible for the scheme in September 2023 and given a certificate to prove it.

"Despite our electricity charge... having risen by two to three times, our electricity supplier recently informed us that we're still below the government-mandated threshold above which an energy discount actually becomes payable. So despite being eligible, it looks like we won't get any energy bill discount from the scheme.

In a statement, DESNZ said: "We acted swiftly when energy prices peaked to provide businesses with unprecedented support, saving them £7bn and enabling some to only pay around half of predicted wholesale energy costs.

"Our support is continuing through to 31 March 2024 with our Energy Bills Discount Scheme - allowing eligible organisations to get a discount on their energy bills."

The Living Rainforest appeal is asking the local community to donate if they can to protect the attraction's future and avoid increasing its prices.