AN UNLIKELY stowaway has travelled almost 100 miles in the back of a van to Brent Knoll.

AN UNLIKELY stowaway has travelled almost 100 miles in the back of a van to Brent Knoll.

The feline hitchhiker, dubbed Hitch, has been taken in by the RSPCA centre in the village and staff believe it caught a lift from Plymouth.

The black domestic short-haired cat, which is thought to be six to 12 months old, was taken in after an astonished member of the public found the feline curled up on a piece of carpet in the back of his vehicle.

The man had been working as a carpet cleaner in a hotel in Plymouth, Devon, and it is thought Hitch hopped on board on January 30.

RSPCA deputy manager Emma Phillips said: "Hitch is a real sweetheart, a bit on the slim side but very friendly and cute. He obviously just curled up for a sleep and woke up to find himself in Somerset.

"I think someone must be missing him terribly. It is such a shame that he was not microchipped as we would have been able to trace the owners."

Anyone who recognises the cat is urged to call the RSCPA on 01278 782671.