CAT owners in Blackburn have been warned to be on their guard after cat thieves are thought to have struck ten times.

Concern is growing after ten young cats were snatched from the Lower Darwen and Mill Hill areas in the last few weeks.

Patricia Wright, 52, of Kings Road in Livesey has three cats but Sidney, a pure white nine-month-old cat, was stolen from the garden.

She said: "This is one of the worst things that can happen when you are a cat owner and love animals because you feel so helpless and just can't bare to think of what has happened to your pet.

"The fact that they left the other two unfortunately leads me to think that he was taken for his fur but it is heartbreaking when you have invested time and money."

The cats seem to have gone missing after 5.30pm in and around Livesey, Lower Darwen and Mill Hill and the trend shows plain coloured or tabby cats are particularly vulnerable.

Eunice Faulkner, who has been rehoming cats from her Platt Gate Road home for the last eight years, is very concerned about the spate.

She said: "From my records we have not seen a consistent number of missing cats like this since last spring when it was mainly tabby cats that were at risk.

"This time it seems to be young attractive cats but they could be taken for a number of reasons. I suspect it is for their coats but it could be for dog baiting or just for money.

"More and more people are being put off letting their cats run free because of the sheer trauma of a loved animal going missing."

Lorraine Dunleavy, 40, of Aintree Drive says their grey thirteen-month-old cat which was taken last week was part of the family.

She said: "We are all so upset but it's just a mystery where he has gone. He was such a beautiful cat, it is very distressing especially when you know he was such a soft cat. He will be petrified.

"We have searched everywhere and he even had a collar with a phone number but there has been no news."

Anyone with more information is urged to call Eunice on 01254 245119 or Blackburn police on 51212.