CLAIMS that a 'Jack the Ripper' could be on the loose attacking cats in East Lancashire are to be highlighted in the House of Commons.

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson is tackling a growing problem of missing cats in Rossendale, both in the Valley and at Westminster.

The MP has asked the police and RSPCA to look into claims that dozens of family moggies are disappearing. And she is to present a 1,000 signature petition on the issue to the House of Commons to highlight the problem nationally. Worried owners have been coming to her expressing concern over an epidemic of lost pets with claims that 11 went missing in Water in just two weeks.

But with reports coming in of similar stories from elsewhere in the Valley, Mrs Anderson wants action.

Owners fear that the animals are being kidnapped for vivisection or killed by a cat-hater. Mrs Anderson said: "There seems to be a problem in the Rossendale Valley over missing cats.

"Muriel Elliott of Whitewell Bottom recently presented me with a petition containing over 1,000 signatures protesting about the number of domestic cats gone missing. I intend to place this petition before Parliament when I am allocated a slot.

"My concern over this was heightened last weekend when others approached me to say that they, and their neighbours, had also experienced the disappearance of pets in mysterious circumstances.

"Is there someone in the Valley with a vendetta against these poor animals? A kind of feline Jack the Ripper? Or are vivisectionists on the prowl? I have asked the police and RSPCA in Rossendale to investigate and will use the petition to highlight the issue nationally at Westminster.

Muriel fears her cat, Mr Darcy, was taken last year for his fur and wants to warn people in Rossendale to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. She said: "It makes me feel sick to think there are criminals like this out here doing things like this.

"I can't bear to think of him being tortured, which is why I want to highlight the problem to prevent more animals from being taken away from their homes. Animals have rights, too, including a right not to be taken from their homes."

Community Beat Manager PC Chris Adams said: "We've had a number of reports of missing cats in this area and we are looking into the matter."