TV presenter Anneka Rice has become a patron of an animal charity after rebuilding an entire set of kennels and creating an outdoor play area for it on her Channel 5 series Challenge Anneka.

The Treasure Hunt star surprised kmfm breakfast presenters Garry Wilson and Chelsea Little at their studio in Medway in November to appeal for volunteers to help in the project at animal charity Foal Farm in Biggin Hill.

She has now tweeted about becoming a patron of the charity saying volunteers poured onto the site to help out in November.

“Thrilled to become a Patron of our animal rescue charity ⁦Foal Farm,” she wrote on Twitter.

⁩ “We filmed this Challenge in the winter, during a recession, yet volunteers poured onto the site. It was utterly heartwarming to see the dedication of the staff and the volunteers.”

The programme, which was devised by host Anneka in the 1980s, sees her being given a task to accomplish within a period of two to three days, usually in aid of a charitable cause.

Rice, based in her famous blue buggy, would organise the project by persuading companies and volunteers to contribute time and resources for free.

The programme first ran on BBC One for six series between 1989 and 1995, and ITV ran two special episodes in the early 2000s.

Challenge Anneka was revived for a four-part series by Channel 5 last year, with the final episode featuring the host rebuilding an entire set of kennels and creating an outdoor play area at Foal Farm in Biggin Hill in November.

It rescues many animals, including horses, goats, ducks, and chickens, but has a particularly big dog centre, which the show's team were tasked with decking out in a complete refurbishment.

At the time, she appealed for anyone who could help to get involved with the renovation.

She also encouraged people to adopt dogs rather than buying them.