SARA Ford, the driving force behind the creation of Cats Protection’s Forest of Dean branch was presented with a large bronze statue of a cat on October 21, in recognition of 30 years service for the charity.

Emma O’Neill, regional development manager gave Sara, from Bream, the award saying: "Sara originally joined the Ealing branch of Cats Protection in London in1986.

When she and her husband moved to the Forest in 1990, she was invited to join Gloucester Cats Protection."

Instead, Sara decided to start a Forest branch and, in 1991, work began.

"Sara has done nearly every job from 1991 until now - including answering the helpline, making home visits and acting as treasurer, secretary, fundraiser and shop volunteer - while always fostering cats.

"In 2001 we started a shop in Lydney and eventually, Sara became joint co-ordinator of the Forest branch with Viv Price and then, in 2015, Sara became sole co-ordinator.”

Sara added: "The most satisfying part of the job is when people join us to help with the workload and with trapping cats. When this works, it often means patching up injured feral cats or neutering whole cat colonies for the benefit of the Forest area.

"Other highlights include finding homes for badly behaved or elderly cats and receiving legacies, which show that the branch is doing a good job and is appreciated.

“Our committee meeting turned into a party when I was given the award and Celia O’Keefe baked a very tasty black and white cat sponge cake for the celebration.”