The Zentile family of Strawberry Vale were reunited with Australian-born Maggie the cat two weeks ago after discovering it had been rehoused with a Worcester Park family.

Persistent calls to the RSPCA by neighbour Linda Joffee finally found the cat, who had been hit by a car and had been taken to the charity by police with a fractured jaw after disappearing in January.

She said: "It's worth noting that that it took me three tries with the RSPCA in order to prod them to really go back in their records and that was how Maggie was found."

The charity called Sonia Zentile to let her know. She said: "I was shocked and pleased but to be honest I wasn't sure it was Maggie until I saw her in the flesh."

She added that the children were delighted to have Maggie back and the cat was a lot more relaxed after settling back into the family home.