LESTER the cat was having none of it. He recognised the scenery after having been bundled into his cat carrier and into the car.

He knew what lay ahead. And he was determined not to go through with it.

So he did a bunk. Just as he was being carried into the vet's surgery. The strong-willed feline had decided a trip to the vets for treatment to a swollen paw was not his idea of a grand day out.

Three weeks later, he is yet to be found, despite appeals in the lost and found columns of various local newspapers.

His owner, Ian Williams, of West Cliff, is still hoping that brown haired Lester can be found.

He said: "I have had Lester since he was a kitten so it was quite a shock to find out that he had vanished.

"Some friends were looking after him while I was in Australia. Lester has been to the vet's before so I am quite surprised this has happened.

"I can only assume that he was bit disorientated by the fact that people other than myself were taking him out."

He was almost captured straight away, outside Withy Grove Vetinary Clinic but proved too slippery for those trying to grab him.

Ian added: "Bamber Bridge is a fair distance from where I live so I am quite concerned. I hope someone has taken him in and looked after him thinking he was a stray."

If you have any information on Lester's disappearance, contact Ian on 82289.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.