PET owners have been warned that their animals are in danger after a cat returned home with a wire snare round its neck.

A similar incident happened in the same area of Waterfoot a week earlier and both have been condemned as cruel by Rossendale Council dog warden David East.

He has alerted other pet owners in the Townsend Street area of the dangers. The RSPCA and police have also been informed.

The cat owner, who does not want to be identified, said: "He came home with a snare around his neck a week ago but it was not too bad.

"Then on Thursday this week he was missing from 6.30am to 3.45pm, which was very unusual. I went to look for him and when I got back he was on a windowsill with a copper snare around his neck."

The owner was unable to loosen it or get his finger behind the wire. He said: "I eventually cut through it with a pair of scissors but I broke them in the process."

He added: "It didn't cut into his neck but he has been in shock every since."

A length of twine was attacked to the copper noose and looked as if it had been cut rather than gnawed.

The cat's owner said someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make the snare. If it was being used for rabbiting the people responsible ought to be made aware of the danger to domestic pets.

Mr East commented: "There is apparently no law against someone using a snare for rabbiting but I don't think they should be allowed. I want to warn pet owners of the dangers and to be vigilant. There are some cruel people out there."