CAT-lovers on a Leyland street believe catnappers are at work in their area as three cats have gone missing in a fortnight.

Residents on Newsome Street can't understand why three cats, none of which are pedigrees, have vanished.

Posters for the missing trio have been posted around town.

One of the owners has posted leaflets through nearby letterboxes asking for information about the disappearance of her precious ginger cat Jasper.

Bernadette King, who lost her tabby Tabitha a week ago, told the Citizen that residents were concerned.

She said: "If just one cat had vanished it wouldn't be such a mystery but it is very unlikely that all three have disappeared for totally different reasons.

"We have heard the stories about what happens to cats when they are stolen, such as conducting tests on them or using them for dog fights. It is very frightening for us to think that could be happening to ours."

She added: "We have contacted all the groups we can think of but to no avail."

Last year the Citizen reported how certain areas in Preston were being targeted and cats vanishing. At the time, Preston's RSPCA believed an organised gang was behind the disappearances, but did not know why they were being stolen.

And earlier this year, residents in Clayton-le-Woods, Leyland, also experienced similar losses.

Insp Stephen Greenhalgh of the RSPCA said: "We would urge cat owners to be extra vigilant and try to always know the whereabouts of their cat.

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