PRESTON'S RSPCA was forced to lock its doors on New Year's Day for fear of being inundated with cast-off Christmas kittens and puppies.

The centre in Longridge Road had this lovely ginger cat and her new-born kittens, pictured, abandoned in a cardboard box a few days before the festivities began.

Staff are hoping they will find a home quicker than one poor pooch which has been waiting for a family for more than a year.

Three-year-old Spike was taken in by the Preston animal shelter last Christmas, and is still without a home after being dumped by a previous owner.

Jackie Holder, RSPCA centre manager of the Preston branch, will be one of the many staff working over the New Year to care for the animals.

She said: "We deliberately close the doors on January 1 so that people can't bring their pets here, the staff still work as they have to clean out the kennels and pens and feed the animals.

"People just leave their pets in boxes or throw them out on the streets in the freezing weather."

Spike, a tan-and-black coloured cross breed dog, was brought to the RSPCA Preston shelter as a stray 12 months ago. He has spent the last year being cared for by staff and is now the longest serving canine and one of the most popular in the pound.

Kathryn Sagar, supervisor at the shelter, said: "He has a fear of walking sticks, which suggests he may have been abused. He gets scared and needs someone patient who can give him all the love he needs."

Since being at the shelter Spike has been re-homed once, for a brief period. But he didn't get on with the man of the house, and was returned.

But Kathryn said the four-legged shelter resident loves squeaky toys and teddy bears and gets on very well with other animals in the centre. She said: "He guards his territory, he wasn't allowed upstairs, so he barked at the man of the house when he came downstairs one morning. He was fine with the other members of the family though.

"I think he needs someone who will play with him and take him out for lots of walks."

The Preston animal centre has places for 62 dogs, 20 of which are allocated for strays, and they have 20 cat pens -- with more than that number on their waiting list already. To offer Spike or any of his feline friends a home call 01772 792553.