A FOOTLOOSE feline who gave her owners the slip during a trip to the Three Counties Showground in Malvern has been found safe and well.

Sodpot, a 14-year-old cat with a missing tooth and bald spot, disappeared when her owners, Allan and Barbara Parker, both aged 56, from Colne in Lancashire, when they visited the Motor Caravan Club event at the end of May.

The couple hunted high and low for their beloved pet, but when she did not turn up they were forced to return home without her.

Showground staff spotted what they thought was the black and white moggie last week and called the Parkers, who made the long journey down from Lancashire on Saturday in the hope of finding her.

Unfortunately, the elusive Sodpot remained hidden and the disappointed couple had to go home without her for a second time.

However, a member of the ground staff, Bob Atkins, finally spotted the timid cat hiding under a portable building on the site and coaxed her out with some food.

Last night, she was reunited with her owners after being picked up from the ground by friends of the couple.

Mr Parker said they were thrilled that she was now back home where she belonged.

"We have had her for 14 years so she is part of the family," he said. "There was some building work going on where they found and she is quite timid, so she had probably been too scared to come out."

Mr Parker also thanked Mr Atkins for going out of his way to find Sodpot and look after her.

"He has been a brick and we really can't say enough about how helpful he has been," he said.