PRESTON Cats Protection is appealing to animal lovers after the mobile neutering unit and the car that tows it were damaged in an accident.

It happened near Blackburn when the driver of the unit had to break suddenly and the tow bar buckled under pressure.

Preston Cats Protection were unable to claim their full insurance due to the nature of the incident and now they have no vehicle to continue their work.

A spokesman for the charity said: "We are determined to get it back on the road, but need £5,000 towards the cost of a suitable new vehicle before we can do it."

The unit is run by volunteers from the Preston branch of Cats Protection and has been responsible for neutering more than 1,000 cats in the city -- now it is left without a vehicle to tow it, the numbers of unwanted cats are in danger of increasing again.

Anyone who can help will be welcomed according to branch co-ordinator Shirley Chisnall, for example -- if there are towing companies out there who could supply a towing vehicle and driver for the two ton trailer every Friday --they should get in touch.

She said: "We've been doing really well locally in reducing the numbers of unwanted litters, but are very worried that without the neutering unit, we will once again have dozens of kittens reported to us every week."

Businesses or individuals who can help should contact Cats Protection on 436885.