SHARP eyed staff from the Cats Protection organisation in Lydney have returned a cat to it's owner – exactly a year to the day after it went missing.

The 'ghost cat' – a grey and white animal – was regularly spotted hanging around the Newerne Street car park in the town for several months, until it was finally humanely and safely trapped last Friday by concerned members of staff.

It was then discovered that it had suffered some kind of attack or accident and had lost one eye. A trip to the vet helped that injury on the way to healing. but a routine check at the vets for a microchip proved positive – and it had a name, Ariel, and an address for the owners, on the database.

After that, the cat was taken home and returned to its astonished owners, who reported that they had given up on ever seeing their pet again, and had bought another cat to replace him.

Deena Porteous, manageress of the Cats Protection fundraising shop in Lydney, The Forest Cat, told the Review: "After we found out who he was we spent a lot of time trying to get hold of his owners, who are in Monmouth, but as it turned out they were away and only replied to our calls on Monday. They were absolutely astounded to hear he was back.

"He was living rough around the recycling area in the main public car park. Staff at a local supermarket fed him when he took shelter in their store room during the very cold weather last winter, and he was spotted quite often behind the Santander branch. Heaven knows how he got from Monmouth to here, maybe he hitched a ride in a van or a truck. We are so pleased that we could reunite him with his owners, especially after such a long time."

Ariel's owner, Richard Bentley of Penallt told the Review: "It is just amazing to get him back like this. After he went missing I walked the lanes to see if he had been hit, and checked with all our neighbours to see if he was trapped in a shed. He had never gone missing before, so it was out of character.

"When we first moved here we had two cats but one was run over, but once we got over the loss of Ariel we got another cat, Kitty, so now we have two again."

He added: "It's sad he has lost an eye, and his tongue hangs out sometimes – he's just a bit rough round the edges really. He's recovering from his adventures, and is asleep on the bed."

•Cats Protection have reported that, following the story in the Review two weeks ago, several people have come forward to offer homes to some of the 40 cats that they are currently looking after. But they still have 'rather a lot' of cats and kittens that need a home, but the current roster of kittens will not be ready for their new homes before the end of December. Anyone who can help with offers of a home, or urgently needed stock for the shop, is asked to call at the The Forest Cat, in Newerne Street, Lydney, or phone their Catline on 01594 841511.