SICK thugs have been blasted for impaling a pet kitten on a three-foot-long electrified metal fence post.

Incredibly, the animal survived following emergency surgery as the fence post, which passed through its leg and body, missed all its major organs.

But owners Richard and Susan Hutchinson have hit out at those responsible for injuring the black kitten. And the RSPCA has appealed for anyone who knows who was responsible for the sick attack to come forward.

Mr and Mrs Hutchinson had taken the stray in two months ago after it turned up at their house in Thanet Lee Close, Cliviger, Burnley.

Their eight-year-old son James, a pupil at Cliviger Primary School, had named the kitten TJ.

Next door neighbour Lucille Gizon found TJ under her car, impaled on the electric metal fence pole, when she was going to work.

Mr Hutchinson, 59, a chemist at Samuel Cooke and Co, Padiham, rang a vet who came out to collect the cat.

He said: "I explained that a three-foot-long steel spike had been put through her.

"It had gone in through her leg, missed her sciatic nerve and come out missing all her organs.The vet's opinion was that it was not an accident and there was also a RSPCA officer there who said there was no way a cat could have done that to itself."

Mrs Hutchinson added: "They are terrible people and what happened has upset everybody. It is amazing she survived."

TJ was found with her injuries at about 7.45am on Tuesday.

Vets from Oakmount Veterinary Centre, Trafalgar Street, took TJ to the practice and cut the pole before removing it from her body.

TJ, who had to have six stitches, stayed at the practice overnight before being allowed back home.

She is now on two courses of antibiotics.

Mr and Mrs Hutchinson, 45, have daughters Sophie, 17, an apprentice nursery nurse at Burnley College, and 14-year-old Abbie, who attends Hameldon Community College. They have two other cats named Taz and Tiger.

The couple, who had to pay a vet's bill of nearly £568, do not know who was responsible for the attack.

Mrs Gizon, a history teacher at St John Thursby College, said: "At first I thought she would not last the vet coming.

"If it had been a millimetre either way she would have died.

"She is so gorgeous and lovely. It is horrendous that anybody can do anything like that.

"If they can treat an animal like that, what could they do to a child?"

Chris Pitt, spokesman for the RSPCA said: "This is an horrific incident and we are appalled that anybody would do such a thing deliberately. The cat is lucky to have survived."

He urged anyone who had information to contact the charity's cruelty line on 0870 55 55 999.