RILEY the cat has been given his marching orders from Evesham Community Hospital because of hygiene fears.

Staff adopted the cat nine years ago and since then he has lived in the management block and wandered in the hospital grounds.

Over the years fund-raising events have helped pay for any routine medical treatment he needed.

But now, after staff who fed and looked after the ginger tom have moved on, Riley has increasingly been wandering into the hospital itself, prompting concerns about hygiene on the wards.

"Everyone knows Riley -

he has been around for so long," said hospital matron Sue Baker.

"But now he is venturing into the hospital and patient areas we must consider the hygiene regulations.

"We have now organised for him to go to a good home - someone who is used to cats and will care for him well."

"The decision has been very hard but, although Riley has not carried any infection, we do have to consider the safety of our patients."

Retired nurse Iris Pethick a volunteer visitor at the hospital, said she was sad Riley had been ordered to leave.

"He is a lovely, friendly cat. He is much loved by staff and patients," said Mrs Pethick, of Lindsey Avenue, Evesham, who trained at the hospital 50 years ago.

She added that the hygiene fears were "over the top".

"There are more diseases from humans. Cats are cleaner than dogs, I would say, and the 'patting dogs', which visit patients for therapeutic reasons, go all over the hospital."