VOLUNTEERS at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary carried out a night-time search to find three lost kittens.

Members of the sanctuary in Bury Old Road, Edenfield, started a search party at midnight after a dog walker discovered a cat and three kittens. The animals were found under a box in the middle of the road in Bleakholt Road — the adult cat was caught, but the kittens had escaped.

When word of the runaway kittens was put out on Bleakholt’s Facebook page, volunteers, along with their friends and families, rushed out to help. It was confirmed just after midday the next day that all the kittens had been recovered and put back on solid foods.

Volunteer Jay Fletcher said: “It’s absolutely amazing the way everyone pulled together.”

The first kitten was found in the early hours of Saturday, but the search was called off at 3am due to bad weather.

After the search resumed at 7am, the remaining two kittens were located. It is not yet known who the mother of these kittens is. The adult cat, which has been identified as Jodie, was not related to them.

Ms Fletcher said: “Why did whoever left these kittens not take them to the sanctuary and save all this upset?

“They could have left them on our doorstep.”

If you know these kittens or want to give them a home, call Bleakholt on 0844 257 04111, or visit the sanctuary.