A KIND-hearted cat lover is appealing for people to keep their eyes peeled for her beloved pet which disappeared from an address in Windle three weeks ago.

Audrey Hartley and her family, from Blackrod in Bolton, were on holiday last month and had left their cats, Basil and Matilda, in the care of a relative in Lawrence Road. However, in the evening of Tuesday, July 11, one-year-old Basil, a pedigree British Cream Short Hair, got out and has not been seen since.

Audrey told the Star: "Basil is actually my nine-year-old daughter, Rachel's cat and she is heartbroken that he has gone. We keep coming over to St Helens to search for him but it is difficult to keep making the journey and we don't really know where to look."

Basil is cream with ginger markings and has a bushy tail but wasn't wearing a collar. He is almost fully grown and has amber eyes. Audrey is offering a cash reward for information leading to his safe recovery.

Audrey had her hopes up earlier this week following news that a ginger cat had been seen on a building site in Rainford but when she checked, it wasn't Basil. However, the female cat was experiencing breathing difficulties and Audrey took it straight to the vets and offered to pay for its medical bills.

She added: "I wasn't sure at first if it was Basil or not until I found out its sex. She was really friendly but seemed to be in a bad way and the vet is now looking after her. Obviously we are hoping the cat's owner comes forward but if nobody claims her, we will keep her ourselves."

Anyone with information on Basil or the cat which has been found, can contact Audrey on 01204 690161.