THREE young cats were dumped outside a Radcliffe pub with a note saying they could no longer be cared for.

David Allcock, landlord of the Ainsworth Arms in Bolton and Bury Road, discovered a box on his doorstep on Monday morning (March 25).

He brought the package in, thinking it was a delivery, but three short-haired domestic cats were inside.

They were taken to Armac veterinary clinic in Bury, but one of them, a nine-month-old female, had to be put down.

Staff have named the two surviving male cats, who are just six months old, after the two finalists in Pop Idol, Gareth and Will!

Chris Heyworth, RSPCA chief inspector for Manchester North, said a note had been left with the box. The writer said he had become unemployed and could no longer care for the cats, and pleaded for them to be given a good home.

The Bury branch of the RSPCA will find homes for the surviving two animals after they have finished treatment.