Abandoned in a bin

A CAT was zipped up into a hold-all and dumped in a bin in the middle of St Neots Market Square. A woman thought to be in her mid 30s was seen to get out of a car, a silver Mercedes 4x4, yesterday morning (Tuesday) carrying a yellow and black nylon bag. W

A CAT was zipped up into a hold-all and dumped in a bin in the middle of St Neots Market Square.

A woman thought to be in her mid 30s was seen to get out of a car, a silver Mercedes 4x4, yesterday morning (Tuesday) carrying a yellow and black nylon bag. Workman removing and laying stones in the square saw her struggle to get the bag into the bin and became suspicious.

Craig Hodson, from Breheny civil engineers, working for Huntingdonshire District Council, said: "She was forcing it in with both hands and then pushing it with her foot. I thought that's strange, why doesn't she take her rubbish home? If I had realised, I would have taken her registration number."

Minutes later, street sweeper, Chris Sneesby went to empty the bin. He said: "I saw the sports bag move, then I heard it 'miaow'. It was upside down in the bin. If I hadn't spotted it, the cat would have gone into a skip and be on its way to Buckden tip."

Officials are now studying CCTV footage to identify the woman, who could face prosecution for abandoning an animal.

The cat, a neutered black and white male, aged about eight, was taken to Wood Green Animal Shelters. It was named Stan after Coronation Street's Stan Ogden because the cat taken in just before him was called Hilda.

HDC's animal welfare officer, Val Trusty, who took the cat to the rescue centre, said: "If the dustcart had come along the cat would have been mauled in the crusher."

She added: "He is a lovely cat, he seemed very placid and good natured on the journey, we don't know why anyone would want to put him in a bin.