AN animal lover is so sad at the loss of a furry family member she is putting up a £100 reward to find her missing cat Merlin.

Jilly Whitfield, 31, of Grant Road, owns two dogs, works for a cat magazine and spends her spare time caring for horses and studying for an NVQ at Waddington Farm in Tockholes.

But the mother-of-two says there is still room in her life for Merlin who disappeared near Redearth Road in Darwen last November. Jilly found eight-year-old Merlin as a stray newborn kitten and weaned him by hand.

But when she returned to work at the Our Cats publishing company after the birth of her second son, she sent Merlin to stay with a family in Darwen, believing he would get more attention there.

Merlin was so upset at being parted he absconded a few days later and has not been seen since despite Jilly's efforts, which have involved putting up posters, visiting neighbouring homes and calling rescue centres.

Jilly, who works in advertising for the cat breeder's magazine, said: "I really love animals and I'm surrounded all day at work by people who are even crazier about them than I am.

"I feel terrible for making a mistake and letting Merlin go away. Both of my sons really miss him and we all want him to come home.

"I can't really afford the reward money, but if Merlin's still alive, and I really hope he is because he's pretty streetwise, then someone must be feeding him and this might just make them want to give him back."

Merlin has a distinctive damaged left ear.

Anyone with any information about him should call Jilly on 07814 786429.