VOLUNTEERS at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary carried out a night-time search to find three lost kittens.

Members of the sanctuary in Bury Old Road, Edenfield, started a search party at midnight on Friday after a dog walker discovered a cat and three kittens.

The animals were found under a box in the middle of the road in Bleakholt Road — the adult cat was caught, but the kittens escaped.

When word of the runaway kittens was put out on Bleakholt’s Facebook page, volunteers, along with their friends and families, rushed out to help.

It was confirmed just after midday on Saturday that all the kittens had been recovered and put back on solid foods.

Volunteer Jay Fletcher said: “It’s absolutely amazing the way everyone pulled together to find these kittens. It restores your faith in mankind.”

The first kitten was found in the early hours of Saturday, but the search was called off at 3am due to bad weather.

After the search resumed at 7am, the remaining two kittens were located.

It is not yet known who the mother of these kittens is. The adult cat, which has been identified as Jodie, was not related to them.

Ms Fletcher said: “Why did whoever left these kittens not take them to the sanctuary and save all this upset? The very least they could have done was leave them on our doorstep.”

If you know these kittens or want to give them a home: call Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary on 0844 257 04111 or visit the sanctuary.