'One life down, another eight to go!' A kind-hearted, cat-loving cabbie has helped a runaway kitten make his way home safe and sound after reading his distraught family's plea for information in last week's Citizen.

Ace Radio Cabs driver Craig Evans, 43, of Whitley Avenue, Cleveleys, discovered six-month-old ginger tomcat Sam cowering in the gutter around 50 yards from his home at Goldstone Drive, Norcross, while ferrying a customer to work at around 7am on Monday.

Craig, whose radio codename is 'Puma', immediately stopped his meter to rescue the dirt-covered, emaciated little kittie after recognising his description from our story.

Sam, who suffered brain damage at birth, had been feared dead after escaping from his family's back garden on January 30.

Craig who owns four feline friends, including an albino, deaf cat - said: "I have a disabled cat myself, so I kept an eye out for Sam whenever I was out driving in the Norcross area.

"I never dreamed I'd actually find him."

He has now declined a £50 reward offered by Sam's relieved grandma, Carol Knott, for his safe return.

Carol said: "I cannot thank Craig or the Citizen enough for caring enough to help rescue Sam.

"I'm going to keep an extra-specially careful eye on him in the future because he's already used up one of his little lives. I don't want him to squander the other eight!"

Craig added: "I'm just glad Sam's back home where he belongs.

"He's certainly the most interesting customer I've had in my cab in a long time."