When Alan Nuckowski was given a 'bag of bones in the shape of a cat' he had no idea it would lead to him getting his first tattoo.

Mr Nuckowski, 67, is a trustee for the Worcester branch of the RSPCA, and was given the cat in 2016 to look after when he was brought in as a stray.

The cat, called 'Mr Crunchie' was in a terrible state, emaciated and with chronic arthritis and an untreated enlarged heart, and Mr Nuckowski thought there was no hope.

He said: "When I had him I thought he had maybe a day or two days left to live, but with a lot of care and love he is still here and is bouncing around all over the place.

"We have a no destruction policy here and we try to do what we can for any animal which comes our way."

To raise awareness and to raise money to keep the work going, Mr Nuckowski decided, with the insistence of some of his colleagues, to get a sponsored tattoo in honour of Mr Crunchy.

According to Mr Nuckowski: "We've done quite a lot of charity stuff in the past such as a sponsored skydive in the summer against my better judgement.

"The more I thought of it, the more I thought it would be really nice to get something permanent because he does mean a lot to me as a pet.

"I know he won't outlive me so it will be nice to immortalise him in this way.

"He has thrived and grown into a place in my heart where my status as his primary slave is fixed forever.

"He is just one example of what we do as a branch. As long as there is fight in them we don't ever give up."

Mr Nuckowski said he intends to get the tattoo done in the new year and hopes it will be done some time in January.

In the mean time he has set up a fundraising page with the goal of raising £2,500 to allow the shelter to continue helping animals.

He added: "There is always another Crunchie who needs our dedicated staff to give them the best care possible."

The Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire branch is in Holdings Lane, Kempsey.

For more information about Mr Nuckowski's fundraising efforts and to donate, go to: uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROFundraiserPage?userUrl=AlanNuckowski&pageUrl=3