LEFT for dead on the side of a road at Coalway, near Coleford, this lucky tabby has made a miraculous recovery.

Now staff at the Severnside Veterinary Centre want to reunite her with her owner.

"It is obvious she was a much loved pet as she was in excellent condition and wore a collar. Staff have knocked on doors and telephoned around the area to see if an owner could be found but have had no luck so far," said veterinary nurse Sue Smith.

The little tabby was barely alive when she was found by a local schoolboy near the village school.

Passers-by helped the youngster take the cat to the vets where staff doubted she would survive her major injuries.

However tabby was down but not out. She fought back and her condition stabilised.

"She is not out of the woods yet but has made a remarkable recovery," said veterinary surgery owner Mark Hinds.

He explained: "It would have been so much easier if she had been microchipped. We could have scanned her and contacted the owner almost immediately and decisions about surgery that need the owner's consent could have been made faster."

And to encourage owners to identichip their pets the surgery is offering microchipping for £10 until the end of February.

"Last week we heard of three dogs and a cat which went missing. If they were picked up and brought to us by the dog warden and they have been microchipped they could be scanned and immediately reunited with their owners," said Mark.

Meanwhile the Coalway cat is still waiting to be claimed. Telephone Dean 842185 if you recognise her.