POOR Eve is in need of a new home after being found sick, alone, and abandoned the day before Christmas.

The 10-year-old cat was left inside a cardboard carrier box in the car park of Bleakholt Animal Sactuary, with a note asking staff to care for her.

Eve, pictured in the arms of volunteer Steven Fielding, was suffering from a kidney complaint, and had been left by a neighbour of her former owner in the wet and cold.

Sanctuary manager Nigel Martin is urging those who leave an animal to first speak to a member of staff.

He said: "The note said that the cat belonged to an old lady living nearby who had died, and asked us to care for it.

"The person obviously cared, but not enough to knock on the door and make sure that she was okay.

"It was raining and the box could have become very wet, when the cat was already quite poorly.

"If somebody asks us for help we never say that we won't take an animal, although they may have to wait until we have room.

"We will always talk to them and do everything we can."

Five days before staff found Eve, nicknamed after the day she was found, six-month-old male rottweiler Max was taken to the Edenfield sanctuary.

A staff member had seen the owner abandon the dog, tying him to a lamp post at Ashton Market after failing to sell the animal.

New homes are needed for many of the sanctuary's 500 animals. For details contact 01706 822577.