ROVER may be a dog's name, but nothing could be more fitting for a little kitten found under the bonnet of a car after a 100-mile round trip.

Simon Peacock's Rover saloon was parked outside his friend's house in Ansdell when a small crowd gathered around his car after hearing a miaowing sound under the bonnet.

But Simon and his friend, Stewart Wilson, couldn't find any sign of a cat around the engine and assumed people had heard wrong, or it had run off.

About 100 miles later, after Simon had been to a meeting in Manchester, he arrived home in St Annes and heard the cat-like noise himself.

He propped up the bonnet and searched the engine, but still couldn't find the source of the miaowing.

Simon said: "I didn't know whether to call the RAC or the RSPCA. I had to call the fire brigade in the end and was quite embarrassed.

"They took the bumper off my car and it took them about 40 minutes to find the kitten. They put it all back together again afterwards, thank God!"

The kitten survived by nestling between the bumper and radiator - a crumple zone which helps prevent damage in the event of a crash.

During the rescue, Rover bit through a fireman's gloves and it took some time to coax the little adventurer out.

Although it appears fine, Rover will be taken to the PDSA for a check up and to determine the little traveller's sex.

Stewart is looking after it for the moment, but hopes the original owner will recognise the little tearaway.

Simon said: "Rover bit a fireman's hand. We've given it some food and milk, but it is still bewildered. I'm surprised the kitten lived."

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