A British woman has been found dead at a dog shelter in Egypt after police say she was mauled to death by animals she helped care for.

Anne Johnson, 61, who is thought to have grown up in Macclesfield, was found dead at the shelter in the Red Sea city of Dahab on Friday afternoon.

Officers called to the scene say she was attacked by three dogs who bit her on the face and neck while she was going to feed them.

But a friend who spoke to MailOnline believes Ms Johnson fell unconscious while going to feed the animals, and was bitten after she collapsed.

Briton Anne Johnson, 61, who was known locally as Janet, was found dead at a dog shelter she ran in Dahab, Egypt on Friday last week

Police say Ms Johnson was mauled to death by three dogs at the shelter as she went to feed them, and was found with bite marks to her head and neck

She was found by workers at the shelter with lacerations to her neck while lying next to a bag of food, according to Egyptian site Ahram.

Her remains have been sent for forensic examination and an official cause of death has not been given.

Ms Johnson - known to her friends as Janet - lived in Egypt for 16 years, where she worked to save stray and abandoned animals.

Her shelter was funded by a UK-based non-profit, which accepted donations via a website. It is thought she ran the shelter largely single-handed.

Friends and family are now desperately trying to re-home the animals that Ms Johnson looked after - which included rabbits, cats, horses and a donkey.

A friend who spoke to MailOnline said those who knew Ms Johnson 'utterly refute' that she was attacked by the dogs.

They believe the Egyptian police are using her death as an excuse to get rid of the rescue shelter, which was unpopular with locals who are fearful of stray dogs.

But friends say the dogs would never have attacked her, and speculate that she fell unconscious and was bitten as she lay on the ground

Anne's loved ones are now trying to raise money to save the shelter, and are 'gravely concerned' for the animals living there - including hundreds of dogs

'Authorities have tried shutting her down for years, they're obviously using this to push for the shelter to be shut down,' they said, adding: 'We are very concerned for the animals.

'She dedicated her life to the dogs. This is not what she would have wanted.'

Paying tribute to Ms Johnson online, a Facebook post read: 'It is with deep sadness that we share the news that our dear friend, Janet passed away this afternoon.

'Janet spent her life saving neglected and suffering animals of Dahab and fought for them when they had no one else.

'Janet will forever be in our hearts, she helped so many. She will be greatly missed and will be remembered for her passion, dedication and big heart.

'We extend our heartfelt condolences firstly to all her fur babies whom she saved and tried tirelessly to find a better future and to get them more help, to her friends and family. The rescue world has lost a a very special person today.

'May you rest in peace.'

Locals are said to be fearful that the stray dogs will now start making their way into nearby villages in search of food, if the shelter is unable to care for them.

Anne had been in Egypt for 16 years helping to run the shelter, where she took care of stray and abandoned animals - including many street dogs

The was unpopular with locals who feared the stray dogs, and Anne's friends believe police will use her death to try and shut the shelter down

Recent posts on social media suggest that donations had been running low and she was struggling to feed the animals.

Dozens of people paid tribute to Ms Johnson online following the news of her death, praising her commitment to the shelter.

Hind Samy wrote: 'I'm am very sad to hear this. She was a force of nature for those dogs. What a loss. Rest in peace. I'm terrified for all the dogs now.

'I hope someone is found to take over.'

Charlie Berwyn Homer added: 'I cannot say how sorry I am to read this message.

Maybe we can honour the memory of an incredibly precious lady by carrying on the work and helping to support the things that mattered to her. I am so so sorry.'

A Foreign Office spokesman told MailOnline: 'We are supporting the family of a British woman who has died in Egypt and are in contact with the Egyptian authorities.

'Our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.'