FIGURES revealed by the RSPCA Worcester & Mid-Worcestershire Branch show, on average at least one cat per day is rescued from the roads of the county.

Last year's numbers, revealed ahead of the branches' AGM, show the charity's care, treatment and re-housing work supported animals in more than 400 veterinary treatments, saw 270 neutered, 240 micro-chipped and 315 re-homed within the year.

Group secretary Pamela Booker, who forms part of the seven strong committee said although helping animals was an all-year-round problem, the approaching summer months were especially bad for cats.

"In the summer we unfortunately always get too many kittens, because people don't get their animals spayed or neutered.

This happened last year. We always get a population explosion," said Mrs Booker.

"More people also move house in summer. Unfortunately, many cats were just abandoned last year, thrown on to the streets like an old bag of chips.

"It means many cats were brought to us with severe kidney problems, because they simply haven't been able to fend for themselves and find any food or water."

Mrs Booker said our furry friends also suffered last Christmas, with the branch housing many old or sick cats which were turned out of their home and replaced by kittens.

Once RSPCA inspectors bring in a rescued animal, the Worcestershire branch takes on the task of vets' fees and tagging and relocating dogs and cats from catteries and kennels. Individual fosterers look after smaller animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.

But despite the vital services the team provides, it relies on scraping funds together from its RSPCA shops in St John's and Upton-upon-Severn and its street collections.

"It is a struggle operating on a small budget, but we're proud to say we didn't turn away any animal brought into us last year," said Mrs Booker.

The charity's AGM is due to take place at Worcester Baptist Hall, Sansome Walk, on Wednesday, May 28, at 7.30pm.

For further information, or for donations to the branch, you can contact Mrs Booker on 01905 841354.