WIGHTLINK steward Anni Ruecroft has been looking out for cats as well as customers over the last few weeks.

Cat lover Anni asked her colleagues to donate food for feline residents at the Nine Lives Cat Rescue centre in Wroxall, and was delighted when they handed over more than 100 items.

Anni presented the last of the goods to Rosemary Jelley from Nine Lives at Wightlink's aptly named FastCat terminal at Ryde Pier Head.

Rosemary, who currently has 19 cats in her care — eight for homing and others she has adopted herself — said: "I am absolutely delighted. We are a small centre and this donation has made a huge difference to us and, of course, the cats in our care.

"It is the second year running that Anni and her mother Sally have organised a collection and we cannot thank them enough for their support."

Anni, who has a rescue cat called Rupert, paid tribute to her Wightlink colleagues who left goods in collection boxes in staff quarters at Fishbourne and Gunwharf terminals.

She said: "As Nine Lives relies entirely on charity, the donated food frees up the centre's finances for vet bills and the like. The goods from Wightlink were enough to last several weeks.

"Staff from right across the company donated items, even those big burly boys on the car decks who are really just a bunch of softies at heart."