A CATNAPPING mystery is being investigated in the Rossendale village of Lumb where 15 animals have vanished without trace.

The first cats to vanish from Lumb were three rare pedigree Bengals well known in the cat show world and including Emma and Ella - the first snow leopard variety ever bred in this country.

Worth £1,250 each, they are owned by Lisa Shasby. She said: "My initial thought was that they had been stolen by a breeder. It would be difficult to sell them as they have been on the front cover of cat magazines and are well known."

That theory was ruled out when her six-year-old ginger cat AXL also went missing.

Since then eleven other pets from homes within 500 yards have also vanished.

Signs have been put up all over the village and Lisa is offering a reward of £200 for the return of her animals.

Various theories have been put forward including being taken for the fur trade, being used to train working dogs for badger baiting or there being a cat killer on the loose. Lisa said: "We just don't know why they have gone. There is no pattern to it whatsoever."

Worried owners are now keeping their pets indoors until the mystery is solved.

Anyone who has seen anything suspicious in the area or who has any information which could help police inquiries is asked to contact PC Bill King on 01282 425001.

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