An Eynsford wildlife park may be forced to close leaving the animals it cares for - including Crystal Palace FC mascot Kayla the eagle - facing an uncertain future.

Eagle Heights in Lullingstone Lane has been open for 19 years, providing a home to animals including huskies, goats, pigs, meerkats, a camel and a rhea, as well as Kayla the bald eagle.

But time is running out for the centre, which has maximised its overdraft with the bank, meaning the animals will have to be moved on and possibly put down.

The reptile house at Eagle Heights has already closed, with snakes, lizards and an iguana having to find new homes.

The centre needs £10,000 in emergency funding to remain open until the Easter holidays, when money from visitors will hopefully leave it on a more stable financial footing.

Chris Belsey has been Layla's handler for the last 10 years, and for the last five she has been on show at Crystal Palace home games, flying around the pitch as part of pre-match and half-time entertainment.

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He told News Shopper: "It is a horrible situation for us. 

"We are a small family-run business, we've been open for 19 years. 

"The animals are pretty much going unless we get serious funds now. It could happen in the next week or so.

"I am hopeful that people can help and that we will be here in the summer, then we can have a good financial boost.

"We've already had to close the reptile house. It looks like the camel will have to go, if things get any worse, the bird will have to go as well.

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"If I could just take her in my car and drive away with her and have an eagle living in my front room, I would. 

"I don't know any other bird of prey that could do what she does (at Crystal Palace) with the noise and everything going on around her. 

"She's very special to me."

Kayla, who is in her early 20s, was rescued by Eagle Heights when she was set to be euthanised in her native Canada. 

Mr Belsey said: "She and her sister were stolen from the wild and the guy who stole them hand reared them. This bloke had them both for around five years before the authorities found out.

"They tried to release them into the wild but they didn't have any hunting skills.

"They were caught again and were studied at a veterinary college but they ended up being too difficult to handle and were going to be put to sleep.

"We wanted to bring them over but there was a bit of a mix up and Kayla's sister ended up being put to sleep.

"When (Eagle Heights founder) Alan Ames found out he got the next flight out to Canada and brought her back here."

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Ever since Kayla has been based at Eagle Heights, and has appeared on the album cover of Kings of Leon's Only By The Night, in the film Clash of the Titans, as well as touring the country at big summer events.  

But now her future - and the future of all the animals at the park - is under threat.

Eagle Heights has recently been registered as an non-profit organisation and hopes to gain charitable status.

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Animals under threat:

24 Huskies - including Polar - who is blind, Snowy - who is epileptic and Max - who has three legs
Two elderly goats - Yes-but and No-but
Two elderly pigs - Cheryl and Percy
Two meerkats - Timon and Pumba
An arthritic camel - Shrek
Ferrets, chickens, a rhea and two boa constrictors